SS: Ryūen Kakeru — Another Monster

A/N: Long chapter, ahead.

Hopefully, you'll like it. 

Since I also was asked, here are some random generated AI pictures. 

[Image:]

I just have a small question before the chapter starts.

Would you rather have Kurushima's skillset or Ayanokoji's?

We're just talking about their abilities, nothing more. 

I'm just curious, tbh. 

[Word Count: 7806]

--

[27th December, 8.19]

[Ryūen Pov]

"Hah..."

"Shit... Why don't these two bastards let me simply drop out...?"

"They're dropping out if I drop out..."

"Albert and Ishizaki... you two..."

"Tch..."

"They were even ready to take full accountability for the camera that was sprayed with graffiti. Although... it's useless... since that bastard Ayanokoji took the fault for it and paid the reparations for the destroyed camera..." 

"I'm not even sure why I'm staying here. I'm fucking stuck in here because of these two, but I guess..."

"I'll laze around, simply..."

"Hahaha..."

"I probably can't..."

"Since there's that guy, too.."

"The one who anticipated Ayanokoji's moves the whole time..."

"The another fucking Monster in this school..."

"Y..."

"Whether it's Kanzaki or not... is something I don't care anymore..."

"It's not my battle..."

"If I failed against Ayanokoji, how should I defeat that other Monster, who had him the whole time in his palms, basically...?"

On the 23rd December, one day after the rooftop incident, Ayanokoji, I, and Horikita Manabu had a conversation. In that, he revealed that Y appeared on the rooftop, too.

And apparently, he nearly expelled Ayanokoji. 

I didn't expect that, honestly.

No matter how it looked like...

Horikita Manabu, his homeroom Teacher, and he himself... they'd have been punished greatly. 

In his case... it'd be his Expulsion.

Horikita Manabu would lose Class Points... and as for that Monster's teacher... to keep quiet about this matter, she'd lose her job, most likely. 

Some matters could be easily overlooked.

But something like this...

Broken Bones...

Especially, if Y forces us for a statement, he could easily have achieved this.

Horikita Manabu was seen entering this rooftop, alongside Ayanokoji, while that Monster's homeroom teacher was right in front of the building, probably having been seen conversing with that Monster. 

In the school's perspective, no matter how you looked at it, Ayanokoji would have been the insinuator behind these crucial injuries from us.

No matter what... it didn't matter if Horikita Manabu tried to state it was not Ayanokoji likewise with his teacher, since nothing recorded anyone else being present aside from us and them. 

He couldn't escape it...

And if he spread this further...

Hahaha...

There would be really serious trouble for him...

For a Monster like him to get nearly expelled...

It's really unbelievable...

Especially, since his whole plan was being used as an advantage by that other person...

Kukuku...

I admit...

I don't think I could stand a chance against Y...

His Strategy was almost perfect...

But he overestimated his own ability...

No...

That's not it. 

He just didn't know Ayanokoji's abilities, in the end...

If he had more information about him, his plan might have succeeded. 

It surely would have...

Although I knew how extraordinary capable Ayanokoji was...

I couldn't help but think that Y was in my perspective better than that Monster...

Or perhaps not...

Either way, it was useless thinking about this, wasn't it...?

Yeah... it was...

Still...

I couldn't help but think about this, at all.

By the mere fact that he was able to get past Horikita Manabu easily...

Without myself or that Monster Ayanokoji noticing it...

There's still another Monster hiding in this school...

Even though that bastard Ayanokoji looks like he's completely fine...

He didn't look comfortable sitting on the bench at all...

Could that fucking Monster have gotten something like a broken rib...?

I don't know...

But I knew from Kurushima... that he moved slightly different, when his ribs were broken at the Sports Festival.

Ayanokoji was in a similar way, walking and sitting like Kurushima at that day...

So it should be like that, too... I suppose...

Apparently... broken ribs are preventing you on moving comfortable and your brain restricts some of your nervous commands...

Or some shit like that.

I'm not paying any shit whatsoever in biology class, either way, so I don't really know about this at all. 

I don't care, either way. 

But I'm feeling a bit relieved that this fucking apathetic monster also got injured.

At least I wasn't feeling more down after I figured that out. 

No...

It was the opposite.

Y's Strategy....

It was on the simpler terms, but great and effective, I must say.

With my hands in the pocket I walked further. Lately, I've been doing just some morning walks, since I don't have school nor club activities either. 

I couldn't care less about shit like club activities. 

I'm not someone like Hiyori, who goes to the Tea Ceremony Club, nor someone like Kurushima, who is part of the student council. 

Although, apparently, only clubs have open and not the student council, I think. Since I didn't see that guy at all, on my morning walks. 

I've become really pathetic...

Out of all people... this happened to me, huh...?

Well... that bastard Ayanokoji surely made me feel this way. 

As I wanted to cross the streets and get back to the dormitories again, I looked straight ahead instead of the ground anymore and saw a girl standing there.

There she goes again, huh...?

"Ibuki, what do you want...? I told you I've no interest in being your leader anymore, so why are you bothering me again?"

"Just take my phone, transfer my points to you or to Hiyori, and have her ask Kurushima to join our class. I won't drop out. But I won't be doing anything else, either."

I looked at my phone, seeing the list of my private points. Since I decided to tax half of the Private Points of our class, I've quite much of them.

Initially, I had no intention at first, but I changed my mind, once the first month passed by.

After all, we've been downgraded to Class D... and I hated losing, more than anything else. 

Private Points were valuable resources for anything in this school. 

[Ryūen Kakeru:]

[Private Points: 18,926,420]

"You'll have to gather just around 1 Million Private Points from our classmates, but that bastard Kurushima is definitely worth it. Let him take the leadership of the class and you'll be easily in Class A agai-"

"Never! Not even in a million years! Not that fucking bastard. Especially, after what he has done..."

As I heard Ibuki finishing her sentence, I could see how she was clenching her hands. 

"Huh...?" I couldn't help but feel confused regarding what she said.

"Did something happen between the two of you...?"

"No... nothing happened between us. Something happened between him and Hiyori..."

"What potentially could happen between these two love birds. I've never seen two people that much in love like them. From all the couples in this school they're probably the one that will stay together the longest." 

"Fucking hell... I saw them even on Christmas being lovely lovey with each other. Leaning against each other, holding hands, or in that fucking cafe where she sat on his lap."

"I didn't even end up getting my hot cacao since I didn't want to talk with them."

Luckily, they were so focused on themselves that they did not see me when I stared at them for a small moment from outside. 

"What could even happen between these two love birds?"

"Did they have unprotected sex or something like that?"

Kurushima is a boy, and he's since August together with Hiyori. It's quite the long since these two are together. 

It's near new year already.

No matter how much he tries to deny it, I can easily tell that he's interested. I don't think there's any boy who isn't interested in that. 

I didn't suggest Hiyori out of no reason to wear a Maid Outfit on his birthday.

Imagining his troubled expression to hold himself back was really fun. 

Even now I'm messing with him because of that. They were seen swimming, celebrating Halloween, and probably countless of other things. 

If I had to bet on a couple who would still be together after high school it'd be them, without a doubt. 

Never in my fucking life did I see two love birds like them. 

Since Christmas and Christmas Eve are two days more on the romantic side for couples they probably might have done it. 

If they had unprotected sex and Ibuki as a friend from Hiyori heard her panicking and not knowing what to do, I can understand why she would be that enraged. 

Potential Pregnancy in this school...

I don't think you wouldn't be enraged about that if you were her friend...

But that bastard Kurushima is wealthy, so he'll find a way to deal with it. 

His parents would probably not like this to be known in public at all, too.

Or perhaps he didn't do it inside and Ibuki is just enraged about their reckless behavior, especially that from Kurushima...

I don't know or care, either way. 

Although... I might mess with him, if that's the case.

"No. It's far worse than that. That fucking bastard Kurushima broke up with her. Hiyori is in her room, crying, since yesterday morning."

"Are you serious...?"

"Does it look like I'm joking, Ryūen...? He broke up with her... because of I don't know whatever reasons. Hiyori is in her room, crying and feeling heartbroken."

"I never saw her like this at all. It's... difficult to look at. And still... she's protecting him, asking me... not to beat him up..."

"Kurushima, that damn bastard..."

"How could he do this to Hiyori...?"

"You're asking the wrong person."

"Yeah... I know... It's just so..."

"Frustrating...? I can see that. Don't do anything."

"Huh...?" she looked at me annoyingly. 

"That's my duty. If there's anyone who's beating him up, then that's going to be me. If it means I'm getting expelled because of that, I don't care."

"You're currently needed elsewhere. Hiyori needs a friend right now, right next to her to get through this. And you're the only one that can do this."

"Fine, whatever! Make sure to beat him up. For me, too."

"I will. I always wanted to fight that bastard again. Now might be the third time..."

The first time was on April 16th, when I confronted Kurushima with the recording from that Yamauchi guy. 

The second time was however... on the 21st December, six days ago. 

I remember it well...

When I tried to kick him, he sidestepped and pressed my face against the bathroom mirror in the WC, while apprehending my right arm, holding it to the back.

But I'll never forget his eyes at that time...

Could that be his reason...?

He was different at that time, out of some reason. 

What precisely happened, Kurushima...?

Normally... whenever I provoke you, you had a satirical answer prepared for me. 

But this...

"Had a nice shit?"

"I'm not in the mood for any of your games..."

"Hah...?" I tilted my head to the side. 

"Are you deaf...? Do you want me to repeat it...?"

It's that attitude that caused me to release a kick towards him.

But who knew, I'd get overwhelmed, that easily. 

I could confidently say, that Ibuki did not stand a chance against him.

But she knew it herself already from that one time, on April 16th. 

I didn't need to reprimand her of that.

"What's with her club...? She's in the Tea Ceremony Club, isn't she?"

"I excused her from it. I told them that she'd not attend it."

I nodded slightly at her, walking further. 

I looked back and saw that she still clenched her fists. 

"I'll deal with him. So even if you see him, don't think of doing something. Just message me, instead." 

"Tch... fine..."

Feeling a smirk on my face forming because of Ibuki, I walked further. 

--

[27th December, 22.19]

As I was on my evening walk to avoid on spending time in my room alone, I was beginning on walking back towards the dormitories. 

Ever since my loss against Ayanokoji, I've been staying really quiet.

Damn Monster felt like it was simply an ordinary task for him...

Despite knowing this, this wasn't the thing that enraged me the most at all. It was something entirely else. 

The fact that Kurushima broke up with Hiyori, who is a classmate of mine. 

As someone who's representing the class alongside Kaneda, she's a very valuable asset to the class.

I never cared whether I'd get expelled.

In the end, it'd be the consequences of my actions, but I was relieved to hand it to Kaneda and Hiyori over, since they're more than competent enough, I guess.

No matter what, I knew these two did not like positions like these, and were rather people who supported the leader, not being the leader, so in case...

I was preparing Kurushima's transfer to my class, so even if I were to get expelled, they'd have a good leader, who they could support.

A competent one, who would not go down under Sakayanagi, and who also would not crumble against that Monster Ayanokoji, and that even bigger Monster, Y...

Kurushima is great... as much I hate to admit it now...

Unlike me, he's dealing with many matter's alone, like the Zodiac Exam...

He knew me well enough and just searched for a validation to prove his hypothesis in the Poker Game at the Zodiac Exam...

No Kanzaki, no one else, who gave him VIP's...

Simple observation of those who were suspicious, thinking of a common factor between them, testing whether it was right, and then, arranging a Poker Game, in hope I would confirm his hypothesis further that Kanzaki provided me the VIP's...

The game was from the very moment a simple set-up to see whether I figured the pattern out, while observing from both mine and Kanzaki's behavior, if he did give me the VIP's, in fact...

It wasn't just there, but at the Deserted Island Exam, too...

Deducing everything I did, through only seeing the camera and receiver...

Deduction, Observation, Rational Thinking, Pattern Recognition...

He's in his sense, an own Monster, too...

Especially since Ayanokoji told me he deduced mostly everything, of the fact he wanted our confrontation to happen, since the very beginning...

Him being Hiyori's boyfriend was simply something I could use well...

If I ever was expelled, because of the usage of my dirty tactics, or now, because of Ayanokoji, he could lead my class, without dirty tactics, having mainly everyone's approval...

Kurushima... he's more than simply capable leader...

One of the best, I'd say...

Hahaha... what's with me, complimenting that bastard, so suddenly...?

I guess... I do care about my class, on my own way, huh...?

But ever since Ibuki told me today morning about him breaking up with Hiyori, I've been more than pissed by him. 

She didn't leave her room yesterday, nor today, either. 

Kurushima... 

You're really pissing me off...

If I see him... I'll punch him...

I was thinking on heading towards his room... but there are camera's on the floor, so if I do something, I'll drag my class, in the end, if I go there...

I don't think I could contain myself, especially since Ibuki said, he broke up with her, for 'No' actual reason....

Even if he had a reason, why date her to begin with, then...

Did he do it for his class...?

No, in the first place, he would have not dated her, then. 

He wasn't someone like that, at all. 

I let her stay with Kurushima, converse with him, did not do anything about them spending time together, despite knowing that he was the leader of the opposite class...

I knew very well he was not someone who would use spies...

Since the moment I met him, and from what I know about him now, he's using logical reasoning of other's personality traits to predict their approach...

Kanzaki, Katsuragi's, Ichinose's, Mine, perhaps even that of Sakayanagi...

Without even knowing me, he did not fight back, when I attacked him in an area without camera's in the first month, while Albert and the other's simply were tasked to record him punching me...

He predicted my strategy of blackmailing him within no time from simply rumors about me, which might end up proving themselves false...

Hahaha... 

Now that I think about it, only because of the recording from Ishizaki about some idiot called Yamauchi who explains Kurushima's theory of the S-System, I decided on confronting him, initially...

If I succeeded with this, the entire class might have been mine, who knows. 

Whether he met up with Hiyori was something I did not particularly care, since I could tell, that he knows how I tick, more or less, already.

The Exams later simply gave me my confirmation, in the end, for that.

Although, they did take Ibuki nonetheless inside their Camp, he was the first person to suspect Ibuki being behind the underwear ruckus...

Besides... I knew very well that Hiyori was a loner in my class, so I indeed thought it was good that there was someone with whom she could converse. 

Everyone in our class had at least a cliche in that kind of sort, aside from her.

But what made me treat her different than my other classmates is that she spoke up without fear about various kinds of suggestions, and her abilities in general, that benefit the class.

She's also quickly to catch up with my strategies, so I never had to explain it my classmates again, and could leave the explanations to her.

I respect her as an individual in my class... and seeing her in such a state...

Makes me feel annoyed...

That Damn Bastard, Kurushima...

If the chance were to offer itself, I'll confront him...

"Haha, why the fuck do I even think about this now...? I just wanted to take a quick refreshing evening walk, before I go back to my room."

"Hahaha..."

Walking with my hands in the pocket, I decided to head out towards the dormitories, again.

"Soon is new year, huh...? What should I do, then...?"

Asking myself this, I looked at my phone, if I should call a woman at my place.

"Not even that feels good anymore. Those two damn bastards even took that pleasure from me..."

Thinking of both Kurushima and Ayanokoji, how their relationships were, I thought that it won't feel particularly good, either way.

"In the end, girls like Ibuki or Suzune are my type, rather..."

Strangely, I muttered Ibuki's name, too, out of some reason. Until now, I always felt attracted towards Suzune, but Ibuki... wasn't that bad of a choice, either.

"Is that how this shit works...?"

"Perhaps I'm simply into that 'Tsundere' Type..."

With a smirk on my face I could see myself arriving almost at the dormitories. 

I was only 30 meters away before reaching the entrance.

I sighed deeply, looking on the ground.

Despite the fact that we had winter holidays, that were days supposed to be full of joy, I had not enjoyed myself so far, at all. 

Looking back straight ahead to the dormitories, I stopped moving, abruptly. 

I saw how the figure I searched for, left the dormitories, not even 30 meters ahead of me. 

Strangely, I hid myself behind a tree. 

As for the reason why I noticed him... no one could not, since he's the only boy in our school with that hair color. 

Even admits the dark, his hair color made him stand out, from all things. 

Being the only boy with such an hair color surely makes you a bit more unique.

Adding that with his looks, he was bound to get girls falling all over him. 

I looked again, seeing that he was heading towards the right, completely elsewhere, where I was. 

Looking deep in thought, I wondered whether I should follow him or not.

I ended up following him, for some reason, though. 

I'm not going to back away. 

Even if it means with me losing again. 

Quietly, I followed him for a couple of minutes. But then I saw him walking towards a tall building with four floors.

I followed quietly along, and hid myself behind a wall, looking at him from behind.

Kurushima walked further, until he arrived right in front of the elevator.

He pressed the button to call the elevator, and not even seconds later it arrived. 

Biep

As strange as it is today, since I argued about punching him, I did not lash out towards him at all.

Then again, this building had security camera's that recorded both me and him so if I did that, it would be fruitless.

For now, I won't drop out.

I promised it towards both Ishizaki and Albert. 

If I genuinely did that, these idiots even might follow along or end up begging Kurushima to let this go away.

In that case, even Hiyori would be forcefully involved again. 

All in all... I wouldn't do this. 

That was my reasoning behind it.

Perhaps also... because I did not want to become a punching bag again, but that was my secondary reason. 

Since neither of us were doing anything against the school rules, there was nothing the security camera's could do. 

We were allowed to enter the school, the library, or anything else, in our Holidays, so it wasn't something against the rules. 

If anyone did something, there were security camera's that would record your involvement. 

In that essence, the school was not feeling the obligation on closing the buildings.

That aside, clubs were also open in Holidays, so that was the actual reason why buildings, school buildings, were open for everyone. 

Until I heard the sound of the elevator closing I did not move. But once I did, I moved towards the elevator. 

I waited tens of seconds, looking at the elevator display. 

"The fourth floor, huh...? What the hell does he want to do there? There isn't much there aside from the staircase leading to the roof. But it's locked, isn't it?"

Before I fought with Ayanokoji, I made sure to check several buildings. In essence, this one was always locked. 

In the fourth floor, in essence, there was nothing really. And this building itself, was also a mystery to me. 

No one was here, but no matter what, there were cameras and everything else, while also the rooftop was always locked. 

No matter what, you could not enter it. 

I'm wondering what Kurushima wants there... 

I waited for a minute of a whole, until pressing the elevator button. 

What a surprise that I, out of all people, would be spying after someone...

Biep

The elevator arrived, signaling with the noise that it has arrived.

I pressed the button for the fourth floor immediately, waiting a couple of seconds before the elevator arrives on the fourth floor.

I could have token the stairs... but my body does indeed feel a bit tire from five days ago, when Ayanokoji beat me like a pump. 

Biep

The elevator arrived at the fourth floor and strangely, I had the expectation that Kurushima would have stood before me. 

It sounds stupid in the aftermath, but he wasn't someone you could easily observe or spy after, normally. 

I feel like I was going in a trap, somehow.

But perhaps, he was simply now careless because of the fact that he broke up with Hiyori.

She also does not seem to condemn him, so he might have an actual reason...?

I don't believe he would break up with her, if he did not have a reason. It was what I thought, at the very least. 

He was full in love with her.

They had more chemistry than any couple I've seen so far.

I looked at this floor, but I did not see someone. Neither was a room open nor anything else. 

It was pitch black, so I decided to take a look at the...

Rooftop...

Clonk

Step after step I walked the staircases up, till at one point, where I walked the vast majority of the stairs up, I could see the door on the rooftop open...

How...?

How did he open it...?

I was confused for a moment until I reminded myself again, what his position was.

He was apart of the student council that held many rights, and a key, was certainly something they could easily get. 

Intuitively, as I walked all the stairs up, I hid myself right next to the door, but then I looked at myself again in disbelief.

Why the hell would I even be thinking of hiding? 

What was even wrong with me?

Immediately, I got off from my hiding spot, walking through the open door from the roof, speaking out aloud.

"Hey you Bastard! Why the fuck did you-"

I couldn't help but stop saying my sentence from my disbelief of what I was seeing right in front of me.

Kurushima was doing something so crazy, which I never saw anyone doing before in my entire life.

No one of those people I beat up in middle school, nor anyone else before, did something so crazy like him. 

"Ryūen."

Even though he faced me backwards, currently, he was still able to identify who I was properly. 

"Finally decided on stopping with the facade of following me, huh? I wondered when you'd show up."

"... Crazy Bastard."

"What are you doing...?"

Those were the only words I could mutter upon seeing the scene in front of me. 

Even I was not that crazy...

Not even in the slightest bit...

That bastard in front of me was standing...

On the fucking iron fence...

No...

It's more accurate to say that he was walking on the iron fence, currently.

On the left side was the rooftop ground, while on the right side was nothing, but the forty meters deep ground.

The school had almost everywhere a large fence which prevents schooler's of jumping, but this building, had not. 

"What I am doing, you say...? I'm doing merely a few balancing exercises."

Balancing exercises my ass...

If he was even just for a moment becoming unbalanced... he'd die.

It's at that precise time I realized the person in front of me was someone I had greatly underestimated, until now.

Even though I had evaluated him so high... it was still low... in comparison to what the distance future held. 

No—I never underestimated him, it's rather that I did not know how his mind worked, simply.

I assumed I did, but that was an assumption I made too early. 

My past self did too early. 

Even now, he continued to walk further, while his arms were behind his back. 

"Have you ever heard of the name Søren Kierkegaard before? I suppose not, but what about Friedrich Nietzsche or Arthur Schopenhauer? At least those names should be familiar to you? Are they?"

"Fuck, I have no idea about who those guys are."

"I see..."

Laughter

I could hear how a laughter was erupting from him.

"Here I was thinking I could converse a bit with you, but I've just hit a dead end, haven't I? Oh well, it doesn't matter."

Kurushima's voice was surprisingly calm considering the situation he was in.

"I suppose I'll have to entertain myself otherwise then."

With that, he continued his death-defying stroll along the iron fence, seemingly unfazed by the abyss below on his right side.

"I'll explain it to you, since I feel like it."

"Hmm... what can I say...? Let's see..."

"These three men, they're people who have greatly influenced my life. One of my favorite quotes from one of them is: Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

"A simple quote, a simple concept, anyone can understand well."

"You grew the way you're through your own life experiences and the same have I."

"I grew up with these three figures, quite a bit. I've been quite the curious child, sometimes. Up to this day, I remember how shocked my parents were when they noticed what books their child was reading."

"Quite the funny reminder..." he released a laugh, yet it didn't sound like one at all.

"Nietzsche, a famous German Philosopher, introduced me to something quite interesting in the past. Have you ever heard of the 'Übermensch' Theory?"

"No..."

I wasn't even sure what the crazy bastard in front of me was talking about the whole time.

Right now, everything he did, was pure simple madness.

Walking on the fucking iron fence while talking...

I listened, yet I was different than usual. 

Kurushima...

He was right now, a completely different person from the one I knew...

"I see. Well, it's nothing that is taught to High Schooler's anyway."

"In simple terms, the 'Übermensch,' or 'Overman,' represents the pinnacle of human potential—a being who transcends traditional notions of good and evil, according to Nietzsche."

"Funnily, this exact same thing, has been used as propaganda for the Nazi's in WW2. Nietzsche's philosophy was twisted and distorted by those who sought to justify their own atrocities."

"His own little sister stole his works, altering them to fit the twisted narrative of the Nazi regime. It's a tragic irony, really. Nietzsche himself despised anti-Semitism and authoritarianism, yet his works gave them the opportunity to introduce the 'Unmenschen' who were not apart of the 'member of the master race'."

"A tragic fate, indeed, that caused mass amounts of suffering. A concept that was supposed to help humanity, instead lead to the very own opposite."

"That's the thing with people that try to change history. They're always looking for ways to manipulate the truth to serve their own interests."

"Our so fabulous Japan is no different. How much have you heard about Nanking Incident in 1937?"

Kurushima suddenly turned himself around, looking at me.

I wasn't really sure what to answer, truthfully...

"I assume you know nothing much of the details, since I'm very well aware of how much middle school covered it, with perhaps one or two small paragraphs at most."

"The textbook publisher Tôkyô Shoseki, which covers the majority of the textbook in Japan, had just written around 28 Words resolving around this incident in their textbooks."

"An incident in which Japan has killed 300.000 Chinese People alongside Rape and many other..."

"Disgusting Crimes... is just covering this much..."

"There's far more... but alone this, sounds quite disgusting, right?"

"Makes you wonder what Imperial Japan everything else did. But alone this should also make it clear why we have quite the strained relationship with our neighboring country."

"Unlike us, everyone is taught about Nanking, there, and mostly, everything what happened. To pinpoint, there's far more history than this, too, between our countries."

"Currently, Japan is nothing more than a protectorate state."

"Many incidents occurred in Okinawa, an important spot in the East China Sea, that leave the residents there in distress because of the objection they have for the bases there, which also covers 1/4 of the whole Island but naturally, our government cannot do anything against it." 

"Politics, geopolitics and interpersonal relationships with other countries can be a real drag, can't they?"

"Makes you wonder... what happens if the wrong person obtains enough power?"

For a slight moment, there was a brief silence, until Kurushima looked at me again. 

Although I couldn't see his eyes very well in the darkness, I could tell, that they looked lifeless, devoid of any emotion present. 

Almost similarly wise like that... Monster Ayanokoji, too...

"Anyway, I feel like I've talked about quite the few things that seem to slightly unnecessarily here. I also don't feel like explaining anything further, so let's get down to business."

"Why are you here?" 

His tone changed suddenly into an indifferent and cold one, and I felt I was seeing Kurushima's true side in this moment now. 

Despite the fact that he was right now... more intimidating than I'd like to admit, I wasn't on to go down pathetically like this.

"You know why."

"Indeed, I do. I just wasn't under the impression you would care about her that much. Are you secretly in love with her or what?"

"In love? Kuku, I'm incapable of feeling such a thing. If anything, I'm just interested in sex. But she's not my type, so you can be relieved."

"Relieved? Why should I feel relieved? I broke up with her, remember? I've... no feelings left for her." 

"Is that so? I feel like you're lying right now, Kurushima."

"Lying? What should I possibly gain from that?"

"Don't know, don't care. I've never witnessed in my entire life two people so in love like you two before. That's something I can easily tell. You didn't break up with her without a reason."

"Oh...? So you're that confident in this?"

"I am."

When I saw them together, the look he gave Hiyori was something entirely else.

That wasn't the look of someone who saw this as a way for pleasure but genuinely different from the one's I witnessed before. 

He was...

He's still in love with her, definitely. 

He wouldn't have hesitated otherwise for this small moment...

"I'm even ready to bet all my points for it."

"Hahaha... I see. Unfortunately, I've no intention of telling you anything, Ryūen. And do you know what else? I've got you in my trap."

"Your... trap...?" I exclaimed confusingly, looking at him.

What trap was that bastard talking about... 

"Look behind you: do you see any camera's here present?"

I looked behind me, where the door was, and above of it, nothing, in fact. Unlike the rooftop I chose, this here didn't have any security camera's on it at all.

"No. So what? Gonna give me like that fucking bastard Ayanokoji a beatdown?"

"You already deduced back then in the Sports Festival that this was going to happen as the first one. That fucking Monster told it to me."

"Indeed. It was clear as night that you'd choose to resolve the conflict with him in a violent manner."

"Ayanokoji not acting like your pawn that you could control in order to avoid suspicion of being X, and just spontaneously changing his plans of becoming the final relay runner when I was out was more than enough of a confirmation for me."

"If it wasn't for my injury, you'd have confronted him a bit sooner, probably. Still... seeing you injured like this, surely surprises me greatly. I always asked myself why Ayanokoji was this confident. Apparently, he had every right to be confident."

"Despite being a student council member you're not doing anything, Kurushima?"

"You're acting like the student council member's are supposed to be some kind of saints. Quite the misconception you carry with you. Horikita Manabu was no saint, neither is Nagumo Miyabi, nor I." 

"Among us three I might be even the worst. No... I definitely am. I'm probably worse than everyone else in this school, too."

"Huh?"

As I felt myself questioning what he was talking about for a second in confusion, he looked at me with his red eyes, again.

"Do you fear death, Ryūen?" 

"What is this question supposed to mean, Kurushima?"

"Nothing, really. I'm just curious if you fear death. Do you? Tell me, Ryūen."

He looked at me with his intimidating and lifeless red eyes, that had somehow found joy in themselves, suddenly. 

I couldn't help but wonder... who the fuck this person in front of me was...

"If I said I do not... I'd be probably lying. I'm not sure myself."

Although I said I had never experienced fear before... I wouldn't go as far as to say I would not fear death in case of actually happening it. 

I just didn't know the answer, but deep down... I think, I knew the answer to his question.

Of course, I do.

While I never was in such a situation... if I had to imagine how I die, the fear of the unknown behind it, of what could happen... It was certainly different. 

I never was one to think about this at all.

Neither when I killed the snake in elementary school, nor ever in my life, either. 

Somehow, ever since I came to fear that Monster Ayanokoji, I've been someone who's been retrospecting on himself. 

In the past I might have shrugged it off, but now, strangely not. 

"I see. It's a concept beyond your understanding after all. No matter how much you might think about being fearless, humanity has always had one thing in common: The Fear of Death, won't you agree?"

"Perhaps. I can't say it for sure."

"Indeed. I think the same. But death, it's quite fascinating, isn't it?"

"I've spend quite the time on reading works, literally depictions of what is supposed to happen beyond death, such as Dante Alighieri's work, "The Divine Comedy", or even the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead."

"But not once... did I fear it."

"Bullshit. I don't believe you."

"Is that so? I suppose you wouldn't believe me, either way. It's nothing one can really imagine, after all. Humans are bound to fear it: it has been a biological instinct in all of us. Something innate, written in our DNA."

"Do you know why your appearance here was a mistake, Ryūen?"

"What are you getting at? I still don't understand anything at all. Don't speak in some kind of fucking riddles, Kurushima."

Laughter

"Such a response was expected from you, after all. But you're right. It's probably better to demonstrate it."

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"

"You shall see. But you should begin to worry about your own future now." 

"Huh...?" As I released a confused exclamation, he looked at my face, smirkingly.

What was that fucking bastard getting at...

"Goodbye, Ryūen."

As he stood on the iron fence... 

He spread his arms in the air...

Don't tell me...

"Wait!" I shouted, but to no avail.

He didn't listen to me.

Then I realized what he was getting at...

He told it me in the beginning, already...

"And do you know what else? I've got you in my trap."

"Your... trap...?" I exclaimed confusingly, looking at him.

What trap was that bastard talking about... 

"Look behind you: do you see any camera's here present?"

"No. So what? Gonna give me like that fucking bastard Ayanokoji a beatdown?"

Just moments ago, he told me this.

I didn't realize what he was getting at previously, but now, I do....

The camera recorded me following Kurushima...

So if something were to happen to him...

I'd be the one they think would be at... fault...

That was... what he was getting onto...

Without a doubt... there was no way how I could excuse myself from this...

There was no camera in here that would prove anything at all, either...

That was...

That bastard's trap...

I glanced at both of my hands, seeing how they were shaking tremendously...

My whole body, upon the realization of what Kurushima planned, stood still...

Was this...

Fear...?

Once again...?

Like with the case with Ayanokoji...

Fear of the unknown what would happen with me in the future now...

Fear of the individual called Kurushima Kaoru... who didn't even care about sacrificing his own life to entirely ruin someone else's...

Until now...

I've been massively underestimating him...

But he was another kind of Monster in this school...

One I have never encountered before in my entire life...

He was far different from that Monster Ayanokoji...

I didn't know why, but my body, despite all of this, still stood completely frozen...

I was afraid...

To look past the fence, on the ground...

What would happen with me now...?

I didn't care of getting expelled... but this was something entirely different...

Everything in my life, it was right now, completely ruined and set in stone...

Juvenile...?

Prison...?

I couldn't help but think about the countless of possibilities expecting me right now in my future...

I was completely shut down from reality...

Not even a glance...

I couldn't even glance over to the location he let himself fall down, anymore...

I didn't even spare a single glance over there...

I simply couldn't...

My entire life was right now playing in front of my eyes...

So how could I...?

I never felt this amount of fear... in my entire life before...

Still in the back of my head...

I wondered... 

What happened to Kurushima...?

Should I look...?

No...

What should I do...?

Call an Ambulance...?

Yes... that insane Monster might be still alive...

Fucking hell...

Why the fuck did he do this...?

Laughter

"You're looking quite pathetic right now, Ryūen."

"Did you genuinely believe I would do this? I even gave you some hints that I had no intention of doing this. Then again, your senses have been shut off, the moment you realized what would happen."

"Awkwardly, your senses did not allow yourself to see my legs that were holding me beneath the iron fence."

He stood not even several meters opposite to me, not on the iron fence anymore, but on the rooftop ground. 

"Well, wasn't that quite funny?" he smirked at me, asking me this.

"Funny? Are you insane? Did you really put your life in the line just for that? Why are you pulling out such risky jokes?"

I grabbed him by his collar, looking at him in the eyes full of anger. 

"Insane? Indeed I am. But this wasn't a joke. I'm completely serious. When you asked me whether I fear death, what was your reply?" he stared at me dead in the eyes, with his lifeless red eyes. 

"You did that... just to prove me wrong...?"

"Oh, why are you acting so clueless now? This entire thing was going as I thought already. If I had no intention of doing this right in the beginning, I wouldn't have come here on this precise rooftop."

"Although, if you really did not come here and followed me... I'd have done some more difficult balancing exercises on the iron fence."

"A handstand on the iron fence does sound quite exciting, doesn't it? It'd be quite challenging, too. Perhaps I'd have done some handstand pushup's, too."

He smiled crazily at my face. 

"In the spur of the death... I don't know why, but I feel so alive suddenly."

"The rush of the adrenaline, feeling the cold wind on my whole body, my hair blowing to the side by the wind, while simply trusting my body enough. It's simply so exhilarating. My empty life feels alive, suddenly!"

"You... fucking... Monster..."

"Monster...? Indeed... I suppose I am."

I stood there, without anything to say. 

"But don't get this over your head and believe I'd have risked my life for someone pathetic like you. How about you look behind the iron fence where I was letting myself fall down."

I wasn't sure why I followed his suggestion along, but when I looked past the iron fence, there was a tree very nearby. 

I couldn't even look at his eyes anymore.

That guy was something completely else...

"I'd have made sure that my body lands on one of the tree breaches which would have broken my fall by quite much."

"It wouldn't have changed that I'd have a broken leg or several broken ribs, the moment I fall down on the ground, but that is a calculated risk I had to take."

"You however, would be charged with attempted murder and I... would remain completely harmless aside from a couple of minor injuries from my side. That's how it'd have gone, if I had the intention of doing this, Ryūen."

"And all you could do was nothing."

"You were powerless, handing over your fate entirely to someone else. This thought never even crossed you at all, right?"

"You and everyone else in this school always assumed expulsion is the worst what could happen, but that's just thinking not beyond this surface."

"Sometimes..."

"You have to be even willing to risk your own life, if you want one of your plans to succeed." 

"This is the resolve I've been carrying with me, for my entire life, now." 

"And that's why..."

"There's no one in this school that can possibly defeat me, if I'm serious."

"A Monster like me—was not born to be defeated, but to remain undefeated."

"Only if you have the same resolve as I..."

"You can defeat me..."

"But that's something you nor anyone else has."

"Goodbye. This conversation was quite fun."

He walked past me and I couldn't do anything...

I knew it very well, right now...

He wasn't someone I could defeat...

Kurushima was in a complete different league...

Even though I could defeat him right now by doing the same thing he did...

What he explained to me...

My body simply couldn't move...

I was afraid...

I was pathetic... right now...

But another line of thought crossed my head, suddenly...

Even though every rationality was compelling it...

Especially, the Island Exam...

Where it shouldn't be possible, logically speaking...

And the probability should not exist...

This was the only thing I could think of, right now...

"Are you..."

"... Y, Kurushima...?"

"I wonder about that. Am I or am I not? You decide, Ryūen."

At that time, it was the first time I suspected Kurushima of being Y...

But only in the far future did I know, that myself suspecting him of being Y, was something he also wanted, all along...

He wanted that, firstly...

Although, I knew that because...

Kurushima Kaoru...

Changed in March 2016, almost at the end of our first year, into my class...

--

A/N: And this concludes the SS Chapter. 

It took a bit longer than expected, but it's quite the long chapter, too.

How did you like it?

Share me your thoughts regarding this chapter.

What do you think of Kurushima?

He's acting quite different than he used to. Then again, you already know why. 

He is not in the best mental condition.

In one of his worst, probably. 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Anyhow, this will be everything. 

I'd love to see some comments.

That'll be all.

One thing, I'm not sure if I should finish the Volume with this, since I did say, I'd do an SS Chapter for when Kurushima and Hiyori were swimming and for Halloween, too.

Yeah... kinda not sure whether to write them, currently. 

Do you want to see it or not?

I don't really mind. I can write them in the future, probably, too.

Well, that'll be all.

This was the SS Chapter I had somehow really completely envisioned in my head, since the beginning of March, ironically. 

Goodbye. 

Have a great day.