Part 2

Ryuen and I remained until Katsuragi finished his meal, then we left the dining hall.

I can see Kushida sitting down in a chair near the entrance.

Kushida stood up after seeing us, and approached without hesitation.

"Ryuen-kun, can I talk to you for a second?"

Apparently, she was waiting for Ryuen to come out here.

With how quickly we ate, it was hard to think that Kushida, a girl, had finished her meal before us.

It seems safe to assume that she had something she wanted to talk to Ryuen about, and prepared so in advance.

Katsuragi read the air, and quickly went back to the room alone.

"Huh? What do you want?"

"Not here... I want to go somewhere else, if that's okay?"

Because of the eyes around, Kushida was in her usual public mode, but she seemed a bit strange.

"Sorry, but I ain't interested in you."

"A-ha-ha, that's not it, though. So, don't worry. I also feel the same way about you, so."

Kushida, while keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, directed her sparkling killing intent toward Ryuen.

"Well, whatever, I'll listen to what you have to say. We can get rid of the troublemaker, right?" As for the troublemaker, it is of course me.

Kushida also followed along and apologized, so I should pull back here. The two walked side by side towards an uncrowded direction.

If I leave them like this, things are going to fall in the wrong direction. I decided to hide myself, and follow the two of them. Exercising extreme caution, however.

I was right to be cautious, as Ryuen seemed to be keeping an eye behind him.

"So? What are you going to tell me now that you're alone with me?"

"It's about the relationship between me and you. Even when we were moving as a group, you sometimes said things that were unnecessary. I'd like you to stop doing that." As far as I could see, Ryuen hinted at revealing Kushida's secret twice now.

It is only natural that she is not pleased about that.

"What do you want with me?"

"What do I want? I'm not going to do anything right now."

"...So, you mean you'll do something someday?"

From what I can hear, there is a slight lack of composure in Kushida's voice.

"You sold your soul to the devil because you wanted to get rid of Suzune, didn't you? Naturally, there is a risk involved with that.  We can't just forget about the past now, you know?"

"Yes, that's right. I think that's true."

"Even so, your appearance has changed a lot, Kikyou.  The old you wouldn't have thought of pressing me here even if I had provoked you. Isn't that right?"

Ryuen sensed that something was strange. He shouldn't know anything about the unanimous special exam, but he does have a keen sense of smell, so I guess he can feel it.

"Perhaps someone came along who accepts your true nature?"

"You can speculate all you want, but that's not it."

"Heh-heh. Either way, for me, you're one of the necessary keys for my class strategy. When I have to deal with the Suzune class, I will use this weapon without mercy." So far, he has intentionally not mentioned the case of Kushida.

It seems that he will leave it as one of the measures to effectively cause damage in more important situations in the future.

This is an obstacle for Kushida, who has recovered and decided to serve the class for herself.

It cannot be easily removed and she will continue to be made to suffer.

"What are you going to do? Will you get on your knees and beg me not to tell anyone? Or will you get rid of me and expel me? Both seem difficult."

"I..."

Kushida cannot be allowed to choose either of those options.

Even if a third option were to emerge, it is the same.

"Sorry, Ryuen, but you have to stand down on the Kushida matter." I stopped hiding and decided to expose myself to the two of them.

"Tch. So you did follow us?"

"Ah, Ayanokoji-kun!"

"I already considered that you would be on guard."

"Whatever. So? What do you mean stand down on the case of Kikyou?"

"It means it as it is. I know you intend to reveal Kushida's secret, but I'd appreciate it if you'd stop."

Upon receiving the warning, Ryuen laughed and clapped in amusement.

"Ha-ha-ha! What the hell Ayanokoji, you're involved in this shit too after all? And the fact that you say that, it means that she's no longer the cancer of the class like before." Getting the answer that cleared his doubts, Ryuen pleasantly laughed.

"Right. Kushida is now taking a new step as Horikita's classmate. I'm not going to let you ruin that."

"I'm sorry, but things are going to get even more interesting. Let's take our interests out of the equation and get things going now, shall we?"

"No one will believe what you say, Ryuen-kun."

Kushida, not being able to stand it here, opposed Ryuen, but he won't stop with such words.

"How about it? You never know until you try with these things."

What is needed now is not a half-hearted verbal deterrent, but a complete containment of his movements.

"If you decide to expose her, no one can stop you."

Kushida could not hide her anxiety and humiliation, so I tapped her on the shoulder and told her not to worry.

"But if you do that, you won't be able to achieve your goal of fighting Sakayanagi in the final exams of the school year."

"Huh? Why is that?"

"I'll deal with it in a way you wouldn't want."

As if in response to my words, Ryuen's smile instantly turned suspicious.

Just like when he had fearlessly abducted Kei in the past, or even more so.

"Hah. Look at that, you haven't shown me that expression in quite a while." I came between Ryuen and Kushida and moved closer to Ryuen.

"Now, even if I choose silence here, there's no guarantee that I won't expose her, right?" Ryuen showed a strong appearance, but he finally raised his hands lightly.

"I don't want to talk about this. In the first place, I don't want to attack your class with

Kikyou's story. No, I should say I'm not feeling like that any more."

"What do you mean?"

"If it wasn't for Ayanokoji's entanglement, this wouldn't have become a weapon."

"Huh..?"

"Im sure you don't know, Kikyou, but this guy told me yesterday that he doesn't want to expel you from the school any more. So if I used this information, it wouldn't affect you, right, Ayanokoji?"

"Yeah. I've already thought about countermeasures."

"It makes no sense to hit you with a strategy that won't get through and then get reversed back at me. Right? I've already learned that I can't defeat you with half-measures."

Without being mean, I am sure that he will challenge Horikita's class in a way and with a plan that I can't even think of.

"I'm going to go back to my room now. Bye, Kushida, enjoy the rest of your school life." Don't stop me any more. With that implication, Ryuen returned to the guest room.

He changed from calling her Kikyou to calling her Kushida.

Is that the flip side of the complete loss of interest from Ryuen? Only me and Kushida were left here, and silence came.

"Why... did you come to my rescue? It has no merit for you, does it?"

"There is a merit. You're an indispensable resource for the class. Even if I hadn't come here, Ryuen wouldn't have been willing to expose you, but I didn't know how you would act. You were wondering if you could do something to close his mouth first, right?"

"...Well, yes..."

"Ryuen is not an enemy you can reach. It would be troublesome if you were to blow yourself up in a battle that you didn't have to fight. That's why I decided to show myself."

"So you're saying that you could help me out, Ayanokoji-kun? Actually... I guess you already did, but..."

"At least at this stage, I don't think we should recognize Ryuen as a strong enemy."

"...Huh? What do you mean..?"

"Anyway, you don't have to cross the dangerous bridge any more. Just take care of yourself for now."

"Such pompous words. Do you need my strength for the class that much?"

"That's also true."

"Also?"

"I feel like I can work well with you now that we can talk frankly."

My ability to see into her secret side has increased the number of factors that make it easier to infer what she is thinking.

"Stop it. People who know my true nature can't really think that way."

I'm sure she's most acutely aware of the fact that she has a personality that's not well-liked.

"That's not true. I honestly have good feelings towards you." "What...do you really mean that? I don't trust you, Ayanokoji-kun, so."

The usual Kushida would reply with a smile, but her expression was stiff.

"This is the truth. Some people in the world find your true nature more comfortable."

When I said something like that, Kushida looked at me, opened her mouth wide, and stopped moving.

Then she suddenly walked towards the wall.

"...what?"

Immediately after that, she spread her arms out, put her palms out, and then fully put her hands on the wall.

"It's okay, it's okay..."

She muttered so, and stopped moving.

As I watched to see what was going on, Kushida, who had regained control of her breathing, looked back at me.

"I feel a little dizzy, but I'm okay now!"

Kushida raised her voice in an odd way, appealing to me not to worry.

"...Are you really okay?"

Kushida showed her usual front face, even though she did not appear to be in very good condition.

"Mhm. I'm good!"

"I... I see."

In Kushida's case, it's really hard to read her emotions.

"Somehow, I was saved by you, Ayanokoji-kun. ...thanks."

"I feel like you've been thanking me more these days."

"That might me so... Yeah, from now on, I'll leave Ryuen-kun alone."

"That would be good."

"Well, I'll go back to my room now. See you tomorrow, okay?"

"See you tomorrow."

Kushida walked down the hallway with a completely restored expression.

However, she stumbled on the way and fell down again, and one of her clogs magnificently flew off.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine! So! Okay!?"

She brushed me off with her hand, telling me not to approach her, then staggered to her feet and put her clog back on.