CLUE 4: The Disappearance of Kyotaka Ayanokoji 2

POV : ???

I couldn't help but chew over the crap that bastard had thrown at me yesterday. It only made me more determined to crush him, along with his damn class of misfits, before taking down the whole Class D and finally blowing up Class A. I have no doubt I'll succeed, no matter what means I'll have to employ.

I was sprawled in my classroom, legs on the desk, hand in my pocket, the marks from the damn monster's punches clearly visible on my face. I was still hot, even after the crap he'd thrown at me last night, pretending to "spare" me. The guy just wanted to mess with me even more and turn me into his little puppet... But I can tell you, next time, I'll smoke him, Kyotaka!

The other idiots in the class were eyeing me strangely, looking scared. It was probably because of my rage... Fear remains the best way to dominate others, and that damn monster seemed to have figured it out, just like me.

Seriously, why were we in class, damn it? We were supposed to be on winter vacation! Why was I here, acting like nothing was wrong? None of this made any damn sense, and everyone was behaving as if everything was normal, it was completely ridiculous.

While I was still observing the degenerates around me, some of them looked scared and whispered among themselves. A girl came up to me and slapped her hands on my desk. I stayed there, staring at her, slowly turning my head towards her. Yeah, yeah, Ibuki Mio, is that it? It looked like she had something to say to me, which wasn't really surprising since she spent her time complaining, a real hothead this chick. But come to think of it, she seemed to be thinking about the same crap as me a few seconds ago. At least she had the merit of being less dumb than the others in this damn class.

Mio: Ryuen, I need to talk to you right now!

Ryuen: Eh, what do you want, huh? Don't you realize I'm handling business here? Sorry, honey, but declarations happen after school, yeah.

Mio: Shut up, damn it! It's crucial, look around! Something's not right with the whole class, you see! Plus, aren't we supposed to be on vacation? None of this seems normal, and everyone's acting like everything's normal, it's driving me crazy!

Ryuen: Yeah, you got it right, huh? It's my little Mio, yeah! Kukukukuku!

Mio: Shut up, damn it!

Ryuen: Yeah, yeah... Anyway, for now, there's not much to do. We'll wait and see what Sakagami-sensei has to say. It's not like I can work miracles anyway. I'm not just going to climb on my desk and order everyone to skip class for a week, huh.

Mio: Tss... seriously.

I could see her getting more and more worked up, and I have to say I enjoyed seeing her get all flustered like that. It was hilarious how quickly she could get worked up, and teasing her was something I just couldn't help but do.

But hey, she was right, I gotta admit it. There was something fishy about this class... or maybe even this damn ANHS. Anyway, like I told Mio, there wasn't much I could do at this stage except wait for Sakagami-sensei and some explanations. Mio was just too impatient, when all it took was a little patience... That girl was sometimes way too wound up, seriously.

While Mio continued to complain at my desk, staying in the same position as when she started, two other guys showed up. I turned my head to look at them, and as I expected, it was Albert Yamada and Daichi Ishizaki, my two buddies. Checking them out, I was a bit surprised to see that they didn't seem to bear any traces of the other monster anymore... Yeah, it was definitely not normal. I would see what they had to say. Besides, they didn't look as disturbed as Mio, which was also weird; in fact, they seemed to be like all the other losers in this class.

Ishizaki: Hey, Boss, Ibuki, everything going well for you?

Albert: <Hi, Boss and Mio. How are you?>

Mio: Hey, Ishizaki, Albert, did you also notice that something really weird is going on in this class, huh? And how did you recover so quickly from the injuries that crazy guy inflicted on you yesterday? Honestly, nothing is normal today!

Ryuen: Yeah, and I don't think it's because I took a bigger beating than you. You don't recover in a day, especially you, Daichi. Anyway, what did you do, huh? Don't tell me you concealed your injuries, huh? You didn't waste your private points on something as stupid as that, did you?

Ishizaki: Well, what are you guys talking about? It's been a week, of course! It's us who came to ask you, as it looks like you're still carrying it as a burden, as if it happened just yesterday. We wondered if there was a problem or something. He scratched his head as he said that.

Albert: <I don't understand what the Boss means either.>

I was finally starting to get what these two had just told me. So, a whole week, huh? Kukukuku, it's starting to get damn interesting.

I expected trouble, that's for sure, but not something like this. For Mio and me, it was just a damn day, and for them, it had been two days? There was clearly something wrong with that. And I'm sure it was the same story for the rest of the class... I'll ask Shiina later to see what she thinks, but for now, I'm going to have to think a bit. Was this their new kind of damn special exam? With all their technological crap in this school, I must say I wouldn't be surprised... And I don't see what else it could be that's rational and logical. I'll also see if it's happening the same way in the other classes, I'll talk to Mio about it later. For now, I don't need to hear these two talk more; they're not going to be much help here.

Mio: What are you guys seriously talking about? This is totally absurd! Did you lose your minds along the way or what? Or did the hits from that crazy guy yesterday cost you a bunch of neurons?

Ishizaki: Well, don't believe me, Ibuki? It's been a week, no doubt about it! Moreover, that completely insane guy you're talking about, he's been missing for a week, no one has seen him anywhere. And we're not the only ones who can confirm it.

Albert: <I confirm.>

Mmmmh? The monster took off, is that what I heard correctly? Damn, stuff happened during the week I was missing, kukukuku! Looks like there's been something with Ayanokoji, for sure. And I bet he must know something... It smells like a plan, some kind of hunt where the goal is to track down the monster? That wouldn't be a bad game, I have to say, everyone chasing the monster!

Mio: Damn, stop spouting nonsense, you two! Seriously, what's going on here? How come he's gone? What you're saying doesn't make any sense! And I'm pretty sure we're not the only ones realizing it, even if it's just been a day.

Ishizaki: What? Hey, it's not my fault you're oblivious! You've been calling us names for hours, but what we're saying is damn facts! I'm sure all the pansies here can confirm it, and even the losers from the other classes, yeah!

Ryuen: Kukukuku, well, it's starting to get interesting after all.

Mio: Tss, seriously! And what are you blabbering about now, you crazy guy? Don't you see that these two clearly have issues right now?

Ryuen: Yeah, yeah, I know. Come on, go back to your seats now; Sakagami-sensei shouldn't be long, and we might learn more. And seriously, my beauty, no need to play tough; it's pointless here. I bet everyone in this room is like them.

I could see that Mio was even more frustrated, clapping her hands on my desk like that, probably in protest, before glancing at Ishizaki and Albert, then withdrawing her hands and heading back to her own desk, muttering something.

"Oh, I can't live without that girl anymore, seriously."

Ishizaki and Albert seemed to want to add something, but I gave them a fierce look, signaling them to return to their seats without making a fuss. In the end, they decided to obey... Well, it still worked, it seems. They were just like my dogs.

Then, as if it were all synchronized, the classroom door opened at that moment, letting in our homeroom teacher up to his desk, Kazuma Sakagami-sensei. The whole class stopped chattering. As for me, I was still in the same position, legs on the table, hands behind my head, leaning back in my chair... And I was watching Sakagami-sensei closely, a smug smile, eager to hear what he had to say.

Sakagami-sensei: Well, dear students, it's time to dive into our lesson. However, before we begin, there's a little matter I'd like to discuss with you. A smug smile appeared on his face. You know, there have been rumors that Ayanokoji Kyotaka from Class D has mysteriously disappeared, leaving no trace behind. As if he vanished from the face of the Earth. We are being asked to report anything we know about this to the principal or the student council. However, I would personally advise against it... After all, wouldn't one less head in this class be a blessing? Don't you think? Anyway, let's get back to business. A sly chuckle escaped his lips before he resumed his lesson almost immediately, as if this announcement was entirely insignificant.

Apparently, Sakagami-sensei wouldn't be a source of information for me; he seemed rather pleased with this news. No big deal, I would go and question this Suzune from Class D; I'm sure their teacher spilled more information on this matter, given that they are more directly affected.

Well, it looks like I'll have some new research to do on all this chaos... I concluded that, for the teacher, it couldn't be reduced to just one day but an entire damn week... Kukukuku, this is getting really interesting, in the end. I feel like I'm going to have a lot of fun.

So, the monster disappears from the radar without a trace, and he even defies the cameras, and there's this mystery of one day instead of a week... Yeah, yeah, there are a lot of mysteries to solve. A new special exam? Or something else... Anyway, the key thing is that I'll be the first to find you, Ayanokoji Kyotaka, and I'll take the opportunity to destroy you and your class once and for all while you're not there to defend them. I wonder how you'll react... You'll probably step out of the shadows if I catch your precious Kei, huh? Let's see what I can do... Kukukukukukuku!