2.3

After the training was over, it seems that Watanabe and the others gathered together and were heading for the beginners' course, which has a gentle slope.

"Ayanokoji? You're not going?"

Watanabe, who had started walking away with his board turned around,  spoke so with wonder.

"I think I want to ski in a different place a bit."

"I see. See you later, then."

While seeing them off from their backs, I decided to start moving myself.

"Hey, Ayanokoji. You should piss off to the beginners' course over there, this is for advanced skiers."

Ryuen, who was headed for that advanced course, pointed at me in a depressing manner.

"No, it's fine. I just want to challenge it."

"Huh? Can a guy who was walking like a penguin just now really say that line?"

"I think you should stop there, Ayanokoji-kun. It's about 70% hard humps and steep slopes, so even I was scared.", said Kushida.

It seems that the two already skied once, so they warned me so.

"That's right..."

There was a warning, so I wanted to follow it, but...

In the corner of my eye, Yamamura restlessly got onto the advanced lift and went up. I don't think that she chose the advanced course on purpose.

Perhaps she saw Kitou's back on the lift ahead of her, and got onto it by mistake without being stopped by the others around her.

 "Looks like it wasn't just for show when Yamamura said in the bus that she has a faint presence."

"Huh?"

"It's Yamamura. I don't think she got onto it knowing that it's the advanced course."

I told them about Yamamura who was sitting on the lift going up.

"Whoa... We should probably go after her."

With that, I took a ski lift for the first time in my life and headed for the advanced course together.

Two can enter the lift at the same time, so I got onto it with Kushida.

The lift started to climb up without stopping, and my feet separated from the ground.

"Interesting ride, huh?"

"You're riding one for the first time, right? Aren't you scared?"

"I'm not scared. Because a fall still won't do much damage at this height."

"Wait, that's the problem..?"

"Hm? Isn't this something to fear because of the danger of the shock of the fall?"

"That's, yep, I think it's like that, but..."

She seems a bit confused about some of my words, but I don't understand the reason.

"Well, whatever. I've been thinking lately that it's a waste of time to think about you, so."

She huffed, and I could see the true Kushida for a moment.

There is a relatively long distance between lifts and the wind is still blowing somewhat strongly, so she must have judged that there is no need to worry about our chatter being heard by Ryuen ahead of us and those behind us.

"I'm not so happy about that expression."

There's no human that would be glad about being told that it's pointless to think about them.

"It can't be helped, right? I really feel that way, so."

After saying so, Kushida sent her gaze towards the mountains in the distance.

"I'm confident that I can read the atmosphere around me and the thoughts of other people. This is the same even for Horikita-san or Ryuen-kun. Of course, I can still lose if this is outweighed by other factors, though."

Because victory isn't certain just because you can guess the thoughts of other people.

"I used to think that I could read you too, Ayanokoji-kun. But I was completely wrong. For the first time, I can't even guess what a person is thinking."

"For reference, how does that feel?"

"Huh? You wanna ask that?"

Without looking back, she asked back with the back of her head towards me.

"I guess I shouldn't ask, after all."

The atmosphere strongly suggests that she is reluctant.

"By the way..."

Kushida's expression as she quickly turned back was not fierce... It was the same as usual.

"It's a very important subject so I'd like to confirm it here and now... You're not planning to expel me, are you?"

"Hmm... You asked that quite clearly."

"As long as I can't read your thoughts, Ayanokoji-kun, I have to think on my own. If I was Ayanokoji-kun, what would I think? How would I move?"

"You mean the conclusion of that is that I'm trying to expel you?"

Kushida nodded without hesitation, and then stared into my eyes.

I think she's trying to unsettle me and find out my true intentions.

I'll avert my gaze on purpose and try to create an atmosphere where it looks like I am aiming to expel her.

From a normal person's point of view, it would look like she was right on the mark, and I looked away with discomfort.

I was curious how Kushida would think about this.

"Are you messing with me?"

"I am sorry..."

As my hidden secret was obvious from my face, I understood that I was being glared at even though she was smiling, and instantly apologized.

"Come on, you're definitely making fun of me, right? Is this funny for you?"

"No, it isn't funny at all. Sorry."

I'm sure she is reluctant, but with what happened just now Kushida was able to completely read my mind.

"I have no intention of expelling you."

"...Really?"

"When Horikita decided to let you stay, I lost my means of expelling you. If I wanted to leave that possibility open even now, I would have taken the choice to talk Horikita out of it. I don't think Kushida's suspicions will be cleared, but this is an undeniable truth.

"The Unanimous Special Exam, you know..."

I know that for her, the time of the Unanimous Special Exam must be an unforgettable humiliation.

The main premise now is that Kushida won't repeat the same mistake again, but there is no point in going to the trouble of mentioning that here.

In the first place, now that all of her classmates know about it, it is no longer realistic.

"Even if I can't eliminate everyone, there is a possibility that I can abandon this class. A class transfer ticket, or I could save my private points. I can leave with such methods. Can you ignore such a risk factor?"

The fact that she calls herself a risk factor on her own, is the interesting part about Kushida.

"That would not be treachery or any such thing, it would simply be a personal strategy. As the school actually has this system in place, there's nothing wrong about transferring to a class that can win. Rather, if I don't think my own class has a chance to win, I will find an opportunity and move forward with the transfer when I can."

She's saying that no one has a right to tell her to continue staying on a sinking ship.

"I can't read you after all, Ayanokoji-kun. I can't tell in the least if you're talking truthfully or not."

"It might be because I don't show it on my face."

"It's not just that, but..."

Looking Dismayed, Kushida turned her sight to our destination.

"I wonder why. My secret that I absolutely wanted to keep hidden was exposed, so I should have been so frustrated and bitter that nothing would matter any more, but… I'm coming to the school trip and having fun skiing. Further, I even feel that there is nothing wrong about that."

"The school trip is a fun event for many students, right?"

"For many students, yes. But for me, every event has been a struggle, so."

The effort to keep pretending something you're not.

I suppose that is precisely what these events require.

"Umm... Can I ask a little something about Yagami-kun and Amasawa-san?"

"Those two from first year, huh? I had a bit of an entanglement with Amasawa, but I don't know much about Yagami."

For now, I tried to emphasize this, but Kushida may have simply spoken out the doubts hidden inside her.

"If you don't know, Ayanokoji-kun, then it can't be helped."

"That's fine. So? What about those two?"

"You know Yagami-kun was expelled, right?"

"I heard that the fact he used violence in the Uninhabited Island Exam came to light. Further, there are even rumours he hit teachers, so I think it's only natural he was expelled, but... He's your Kouhai, right? You two looked close, so it was a shock, wasn't it?"

[TL Note 14 : Kouhai, someone from a lower year/rank. Opposite of Senpai]

Yagami was a White Room student. In other words, he had no connection with Kushida in the past.

The information given by Tsukishiro's side was used as a guise, and Kushida was probably made to think of him as her Kouhai, considering the risk of him learning about the past.

However, there is no way for me, an outsider, to deduce this, so I have no choice but to give this answer.

"Wrong. Yagami-ku-.. He knew of my past. Only the Horikita siblings went to the same middle school as me."

"So you're asking how he knew of your past?"

"He told me directly. So I, naturally, was suspicious of Horikita-san and you, Ayanokoji-kun. Ryuen-kun also knew of my true nature, but he doesn't know my past, so I can leave him out."

It is true that her true nature and her past are completely different things.

"But it doesn't add up with Horikita-san, right? There is no merit for her to speak of my past. In which case, by a process of elimination, you're the only one left, Ayanokoji-kun. That has been bugging me for all this time."

"I see."

Indeed, I am one of the few students who know of Kushida's past.

It was inevitable that she would act hostile towards me in the Unanimous Special Exam, but her suspicions towards me may have also been among the reasons for her hostility.

Further, with it being clear that Amasawa was also involved with Kushida, I end up being a suspicious person with my own connection to Amasawa.

If I simply deny it here, then the question of who revealed her past would cling to Kushida's mind. It's a different matter to clear away her suspicions.

"I don't care either way. I just want to know the truth."

"Even if I am connected to Yagami and Amasawa, you'll forgive me?"

"Huh? Of course I won't. But... All I'm saying is that I won't try to do something to you because of it. Rather, I think I will recognize again that you are a foe far beyond my level."

Right now, her fangs are meekly pulled back. She's saying that she will only pull them back even further.

"Hmm, no... There's no one other than you coming up in my mind, Ayanokoji-kun, but I think it might not be you. That guy wanted to expel you. He wasn't pretending, it was from the bottom of his heart. There's a contradiction, isn't there?"

The reason for me being connected to the Yagami side and leaking information becomes doubtful.

It is only a hassle to go out of my way to hunt down Kushida like that.

With such suspicions in her mind, it must have been quite difficult to continue her school life.

Still, I can't talk concretely about White Room.

"I met Yagami in my old school, so I knew who he was. We lived close by, so."

"Huh..?"

"It's also the same for Amasawa. I think I've caused those two to have a misunderstanding, so they always resented me. I was able to solve the misunderstanding with Amasawa, but, I couldn't do so with Yagami. I responded by ignoring him, but I suppose he came in contact with you before I knew it. "

"Wait, in that case, isn't it strange? He shouldn't have known about me, right?"

"I don't know how he found out, but maybe he looked into you because you're my classmate? He must have been looking for a chance to take revenge on me. In other words, you were simply dragged into this."

I lightly bowed, and apologised to Kushida.

"Even though I didn't know about it, I'm sorry that you got involved because of me."

"...Ayanokoji-kun."

I won't say she is completely relieved, but I'm sure she will come up with a lot of answers now that she knows I was connected with those two in the past.

"Could Yagami-kun's expulsion... Could it be your doing, Ayanokoji-kun?"

"If I ignored him, there is a high possibility that it would bring you, who chose to help the class out, into harm's way. The fact that Amasawa came into contact with you must have also been because she knew Yagami would do something to you."

For this point, I'll answer honestly.

Nagumo, Ryuen, and Horikita. Several people either know or suspect my involvement.

If the truth comes out after I deny it, it will be too much trouble.

"Amasawa remained in the school, but, like I said earlier, I solved her misunderstanding. She shouldn't hinder you in the future. She may still have some issues with the things you say and do, though."

The creation of an environment where Kushida can utilize her true abilities to their full extent in her school life. It may be created from this unexpected discussion.

"I..."

As a strong wind blew, Kushida's white knit hat, which she was wearing shallowly, was about to be blown off.

In order to stop that, I reached out with my hand and pushed the hat with my palm.

At the same time, Kushida's hand also came on top of mine.

"Oops, thanks."

It was highly likely that it wouldn't have blown away even without me lending a hand, but Kushida turned towards me while thanking me.

 She immediately went rigid, staring into my eyes, and wasn't moving away.

"What is it?""

"...Oh, it's nothing."

I didn't understand what she was thinking, but she quickly turned her gaze away.

Then the lift reached its destination and we got ready to disembark.

"Can you go?"

"I think I can handle it."

I replied so, but Kushida got off first, as if to set an example, and I followed after her. After the long lift ride, we arrived at the advanced course.

There seemed to be fewer people here than down below, but it should be enough.

"This is pretty amazing, huh."

"The slopes are steeper than you thought, right?"

Just as Kushida said, the slope looks steeper than what I had seen looking up from below.

"Are you really sure?"

"Well, I'll manage somehow."

"If something goes wrong, it might be better to walk down to the side of the slope after taking your boards off. I guess it wouldn't be cool, but..."

"I got it. But, Yamamura is more important right now."

The ski place is crowded with a mix of students and regular tourists, so it will be hard to find her.

"I thought she would notice that she can't ski here and be waiting by the lift, but..."

Kushida and I looked around our surroundings together.

Yet, we can't find Yamamura's figure right away.

"Maybe she has already started skiing..? That can't be, right?"

There are many sliding down the slopes, but no one appears to be a clear beginner. On the other hand, there were many boys and girls gathered around Ryuen.

"Those students are in Ryuen-kun's class, right? I guess he's more popular than I thought."

"They don't look like they're having a lot of fun talking to each other, though."

"Indeed."

The gathered students are saying something to Ryuen with a very serious expression on their faces.

Ryuen, who is in the middle, seems to be simply listening without looking at anyone in particular.

Why are they gathering in an uncrowded place like the advanced course on purpose?

If they wanted to keep in touch with the class, they could just use their cellphones later.

In which case... I can only assume that they intentionally formed such a gathering.

"Maybe he was reporting something?"

"It looks like it."

The members who had gathered were Kaneda, Ishizaki, Kondou and others who often received instructions from Ryuen.

"There she is, Ayanokoji-kun. Yamamura-san."

As Kushida said so, Yamamura really was in the direction she was looking at.

Without skiing, she was looking at Ryuen's class which was dispersing.

"Yamamura-sa-.."

Kushida was about to call out in a loud voice, but I signalled for her to be quiet with my finger and eyes.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Please wait a bit."

Yamamura's movements are a bit puzzling.

She went up to the advanced course while knowing it was a mistake, and stayed there silently, as if trying to hide her presence.

"What kind of student is Yamamura?"

"What kind of student? I guess I don't really know much about her either."

"You have the widest range of acquaintances in the school, but there are students even you don't know, huh..."

"That's right. I could get a grasp if she was someone that talked to me on her own, but Yamamura-san is different. She hasn't talked to me even once, and if I talk to her myself, she gives a short reply of nodding silently and ends it. I can't get to know her like that, can I?"

If she is closing herself off, then it is true that even Kushida can't do anything about it.

"Who are the students in Class A that she gets along with?"

"I don't know that either... I can't even imagine her talking with anyone. She has a very faint presence, doesn't she?"

The group was just formed, but I still have a faint impression of her.

Yamamura's personal OAA revealed that she has low physical ability but high academic ability.

Soon enough, the students who had gathered around Ryuen scattered and returned to their own groups.

At the same time, Yamamura cut her gaze off from Ryuen's side and began to slowly move.

The two of us followed her with our eyes so as to not lose her, and…

"Ah, she fell."

Perhaps caught in the snow, Yamamura fell on the spot.

There were some people around, but no one noticed or even looked like they wanted to help her.

"It's hard to have a faint presence, huh?"

"So why are you looking at me?"

"You're the representative of a faint presence, aren't you? Well, you used to be, I should say."

It's a sad thing that I can't deny it.

No matter how hard I try, I can't do anything about that.

"By the way, how does Yamamura's movements look like to you, Kushida?"

"Running away from the subject, huh?"

"I'm not running away."

I denied it, but Kushida still laughed.

"Yamamura-san's movements... Maybe she's watching over Ryuen-kun's movements under someone's instruction?"

"That's very likely. I think there's only one person who could do that."

"Sakayanagi-san, right? But I don't see a connection between her and Yamamura-san."

"That would precisely be the reason, wouldn't it? No one is aware of that connection. Even I might not have noticed if I wasn't put in the same group as Yamamura. We are both beginners, so I was curious what she would do. If I had been an intermediate or higher, I would have already started skiing without worrying about it."

"If you can confirm whether there is a connection or not, then it's best you do so, if you can."

"It may be important for fighting with Sakayanagi in the future. I can't avoid the task of figuring out who is an important person at hand for Sakayanagi.

"I see."

"Yamamura's moving."

We kept watching over Yamamura's movements.

Taking off her boards, she was walking down the steep slope from the edge with fear.

"I'll go support her a bit. Maybe I can get closer to her."

Kushida, deciding what she had to do, started sliding.

"She's moving fast, huh."

She is quick-witted, and she can smoothly read my intent.

Further, Kushida has strong conversational skills that lets her get close with most people.

As long as that is the way for her to stay in her own class, then she has to keep it up.

Well then, maybe I should try experiencing this advanced course by myself.