Chapter 52 - Ichinose 3 - The Final Nail

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"The eagle does not fight the snake on the ground. It picks it up into the sky and changes the battleground, then it releases the snake into the sky." ~Unknown

"Hahaha… You're kidding, right, Yagami? You must be joking…" Ichinose mumbled desperately, her voice wavering.

"Of course, I'm not," I replied, leaning back in my chair, my tone dismissive. "I don't care about Morishita. Honestly, I care even less about this little game of ours."

"Then… just why?" she asked, frustration mixing with confusion.

"This isn't about winning or losing—not in the way you're thinking," I said, glancing toward Ryuk, recalling my original plan to cheat and end this quickly. "Before my match with Morishita, I assumed facing you would be boring. I intended to end this as fast as possible. But when Morishita put her expulsion on the line, I saw an opportunity—a chance to make things far more… entertaining."

I paused, watching her closely. "You see, I don't care who technically wins this game. What I'm interested in is your mindset, Ichinose. When this is over, will you walk away feeling like you won, or will you question everything, wondering if you ever had a chance?"

I leaned back, letting a faint smile touch my lips. "The outcome that matters to me isn't written on a scoreboard. It's the mark this game leaves on you—whether you leave here feeling victorious… or like you were played from the start."

"I… I don't understand…" Ichinose whispered, shaken.

"We talked about regret, about right and wrong, about matching the expectations others have for you," I continued. "I'm curious to see if you can balance all of that against what I see as reality. Can your ideals really hold up against mine? You'd never beat me in a battle of strategy or wit, but maybe… maybe, in a clash of ideology, you might try."

Ichinose's eyes widened as if a realization had finally dawned on her. "Ah… I see. When you spoke of regret, right and wrong, you didn't mean it as righting a wrong against someone or doing what's just. You meant it as doing something improperly—as in failing to succeed. Is that really how you see things, Yagami? Is that your world? A world where the strong rule and the weak… suffer?"

"You're confused, Ichinose," I said, my tone calm but cutting. "This isn't about ruling or suffering, and it isn't about my world. What you're describing is the real world. It's all about winning—nothing else matters. But now, I want to see something." I paused, watching her reaction. "I want to see how you choose when your ideas of right and wrong clash with your need to meet expectations… and avoid regret."

Ichinose's voice trembled as she replied, "This… this is cruel, Yagami. I want to win, but your way of thinking—it's wrong." She looked at me, searching for answers. " how do I win?"

I chuckled softly. "Asking your opponent how to win? That's a bit strange, isn't it?" I watched her, reading her as she struggled to collect herself. "But fine. There are two ways you can beat me."

I leaned forward, my voice steady. "The first way is simple: reject my offer, don't forfeit, and aim to win or tie in the last two rounds. You'll have stood your ground, met your classmates' expectations, and set an example for everyone watching."

"But… wouldn't that mean Morishita would be expelled?" Ichinose asked, her tone wavering.

"Yes," I replied, my voice unyielding. "But that would still bother me. If you're willing to let go of Morishita and accept her expulsion without a second thought, and you walk away satisfied with the outcome, you'll have forced me into an outcome I didn't want. You'd have invalidated my plan and shown me you could pursue your goals without hesitation. You'd defeat me in every sense of the word."

Ichinose's gaze held mine, her eyes searching for something more.

"Then there's the second way," I continued, watching her carefully. "You can forfeit and save Morishita. If you do it without regret, you'd win a battle of ideology—one that would make me feel like the true loser despite winning the game itself. You'd prove that you don't need to play by my rules to feel victorious. By doing that, you'd win on an ideological level, showing that your beliefs hold firm even when tested. And if you walk away knowing you've upheld those beliefs and shaken the foundation of mine… then, in that sense, I'm the one who's lost.

I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in before adding, "Of course, the worst and most pathetic option would be for you to choose either path, but out of necessity instead of conviction. That wouldn't just be sad—it would be disappointing."

Ichinose stayed silent for a moment, her gaze steady but pensive. "You really look down on the second option. You admit it would annoy you, but you don't see it as the best way to defeat you, do you?" Her voice was still shaky but steadying, her eyes searching mine for answers.

"It might be a victory for you," I replied, "but it would be a fool's victory. When you have the chance to defeat me completely, why would you settle for half a victory? And all to save some useless girl? A girl you'd be better off letting go? Her expulsion would only weaken Class A in the end." I leaned back, my voice calm but pointed. "Saving someone you have no ties to is a fool's errand—especially when there's no incentive."

"No, you don't understand," Ichinose replied, her voice gaining strength as conviction flickered in her eyes. "There shouldn't have to be an incentive, Yagami. It may not be the 'correct' action from a logical perspective, but it's the right thing to do."

I regarded her quietly, analyzing her expression as she continued.

"That's what I have to do," she said with a clarity that surprised me. "It's a choice I can live with, a choice I wouldn't regret. An action I believe everyone would understand… the action that's right."

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice low and testing.

"I'm confident," she responded, her gaze unwavering as she turned toward the administrator. "In return for Yagami allowing Morishita to remain in school, as he promised, I will forfeit this game."

The administrator nodded, her voice clear and formal. "In this confrontation between Light Yagami of Class B and Honami Ichinose of Class C, I declare the victor is Light Yagami of Class B by forfeiture."

I took a deep breath, letting out a slow sigh as I closed my eyes. Unsurprised by her choice, I simply acknowledged that the game had ended.

"What you said earlier," Ichinose began, her voice curious, "was it all lies? A way to try and force me into this decision?" She looked at me steadily, a note of defiance in her tone. "I want you to know—I would have made this choice anyway because I truly believe it's right."

I opened my eyes, meeting her gaze. "They weren't lies," I replied calmly. "I meant every word about feeling annoyed and about feeling like I lost. Winning should be dominant—leaving no room for interpretation or debate."

She studied me as if absorbing every word. "I see," she replied quietly as I rose to my feet.

I turned toward the exit. "I'll be going to my room, then."

"Thank you, Yagami," she said, her tone softened. "I don't know if you meant to do it, but I feel like… you helped me learn a lot about myself today."

I paused with my hand on the door handle, nodding slightly before responding. "I just hope you don't come to regret your decision."

***Ichinose***

As Yagami left, I felt the administrator's gaze settle on me. It lingered in a way that made my skin prickle, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"Uh… sorry, is something wrong?" I asked, trying to mask my confusion with a smile.

The administrator's eyes narrowed slightly, yet he stayed silent. He turned away without a word, disconnecting the large screen used for our game. For a moment, he simply stood there, his back turned.

"It's nothing," he finally murmured, almost to himself. "Well, you'll figure it out soon enough." His voice was low and cryptic. "I need to clean up here, so… please give me some space."

"Of course. Do you need any help?" I offered, standing up and smoothing my attire, trying to ease the tension with a touch of cheerfulness.

"No, it's alright," he replied, his tone flat and dismissive. "It's late, and you should go."

I nodded, though the unease bit at me. "I understand. Thank you… for everything." I turned and stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind me.

The hallways were stiller than I'd ever seen them, eerily silent as if the entire school was holding its breath. Without the familiar sound of student voices and footsteps, it felt as though I was walking through a world separate from reality. I had never noticed it before; usually, like everyone else, I would head straight to the lounge to watch Yagami's matches.

Tonight, however, was different. Yagami had gone to his room early, leaving me to make my way alone. My footsteps echoed against the walls, each step bringing with it a mix of pride and relief. I saved Morishita. That thought, steady and certain, was a warm comfort against the strange chill of the empty halls.

Finally, I reached the lounge doors. Taking a deep breath, I pushed them open, the moment stretching out like an eternity. Yet, this pause wasn't filled with tension or fear—it was as if all the stress from my game with Yagami had evaporated, leaving me lighter than I'd felt in a long time.

Inside, the lounge was quiet, but every head turned to look at me as I entered. A ripple of whispers passed through the room, the weight of dozens of silent gazes settling on me. I felt a prickle of uncertainty creep in once more.

"What… what is it?" I asked, glancing around, trying to read the expressions on their faces. The silence was thick. "I'm sorry I couldn't win, but I believe Morishita's future is more important than a likely tie. I hope no one's disappointed."

The response was an odd mumble of acknowledgment, punctuated by a weak "Yeah, we understand, Ichinose…" from Kanzaki, though he wouldn't quite meet my eyes.

And then, as if unable to hold it in any longer, Ryuen burst into laughter. The harsh, mocking sound sliced through the tension, drawing every eye to him. He smirked, his gaze predatory. "You all aren't going to tell her, are you? Fine, I'll do the honors."

"Ryuen!" Kanzaki snapped, desperation flashing across his face, but the damage had already been done. He let out a sigh, defeated, his shoulders slumping.

"Ichinose…" he began carefully, his tone soft but laced with an edge of pity that made my stomach twist. "The truth is… you didn't save Morishita. She was never in any danger to begin with. Yagami tricked you." His voice turned grave, "The truth is… you forfeited for nothing.."

"What… what do you mean?" I whispered, my voice barely holding steady. "That… that can't be true. I was there. I saw the bet Morishita and Yagami made firsthand…"

Kanzaki's gaze was full of pity as he continued. "The truth is… Yagami had already secured Morishita's safety long before your game. He and Katsuragi made a private deal. Morishita was never going to be expelled—he just made it look that way to you. He… he dangled her future like bait, making you believe you were protecting her."

The realization hit me like ice water, spreading from my chest and chilling me to the bone. I tried to grasp at each thought, each memory of the game, replaying my decisions, my choice to forfeit. I'd thought I was sacrificing something for the right reasons. I'd thought I was doing something selfless, noble even. But it was all an illusion? A carefully orchestrated trap set by Yagami?

"Why…?" My voice broke as I forced out the word, feeling my throat tighten around it. "Why would he do that? Why go to such lengths just to… to…"

Ryuen smirked, crossing his arms as he looked at me. "Who knows? But maybe this was his way of showing you just how outclassed you were."

My legs suddenly felt weak, and I stumbled, gripping the back of a nearby chair to steady myself. The pride I'd felt in my decision, in my sacrifice, shattered, leaving a raw emptiness in its place. Everything I had believed—that I was doing the right thing, that I was saving Morishita—all of it had been twisted into something meaningless by Yagami.

"I… I thought…" I barely recognized my own voice as I choked out the words, shame burning in my cheeks. "I thought I'd made the right choice."

"Ichinose… don't beat yourself up. You never really had control over any of this. None of us did."

Ryuen's mocking laughter echoed around me, drilling into my ears. Humiliation flooded over me, drowning any remaining traces of confidence. Yagami had outplayed me completely, leaving me with nothing—no victory, no dignity, not even the comfort of knowing I'd done something good. He'd stripped me of everything, leaving me exposed, vulnerable, and powerless. He had let me think I had a choice, but in reality, it had always been his.

I thought back to every moment in the game, each conversation, every look he'd given me. I had thought he was being sincere, that I was matching him on equal ground, making sacrifices he would understand. Now, in hindsight, every word and every look felt like another calculated move by him.

He hadn't just taken away my pride; he'd denied me the chance to feel anything—victory, happiness, even the dignity of a real defeat. He hadn't let me have anything.

In the end, I hadn't been his opponent. How could I have been? He never even gave me the chance to challenge him.

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I'd love to hear whatever you guys have to say regarding the plot and how things are developing. I like hearing everyone's opinions, and I want to make this story as enjoyable as possible for all of you.

I'm curious to know if anyone expected the 'solution' to this final game. Please give me your opinions on it, too.

This arc is basically over. One more chapter will discuss some character comments and the final results, and then we will move on to the next cannon arc (I just didn't think the cruise ship exam fit with the story; it would have been boring).

***semi-important***

I have a really important question. What was your favorite manner in which a situation has been handled in the story? (This may affect how I write scenarios in the future)

1. Light manipulates Ryuen into leaking the midterms

2. Light Manipulates and indirectly bullies Kei

3. Light comes out on top in the island exam by figuring out Class D's shadow leader, and tricks Horikita.

4. Light wins over Katsuragi (Coin Game)

5. Light wins over Horikita (Chomp)

6. Light wins over Morishita (Detective Game)

7. Light wins over Ichinose (Random Number Game)