Chapter 95 – Kushida’s dark past

Bonus chapter

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In Yukio's class, everyone made plans to celebrate, as the outcome of the special exam was overwhelmingly joyous, even though they had anticipated this result three days prior.

Still, there was concern that the three privileged students in their class might be guessed by the other three classes based on luck, as luck is unpredictable.

The other three classes, one more despondent than the other, didn't dare take the risk of guessing, allowing them to ascend safely to Class A!

Thus, restaurants, cinemas, and KTVs were filled with students from Yukio's class continuing their music and dance, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Just when the class members invited Yukio to join in the fun, he was unexpectedly blocked in his room by Kushida, whose cheeks were flushed red.

"How did you come here?" As if a wolf had eaten a sheep, Yukio proactively poured a glass of juice for Kushida, sitting across from her and casually asking her intentions while handing over the juice.

"This time, most students in your Class D are probably feeling down, right? Isn't this the perfect opportunity for you to step in and soothe them, gaining their trust?"

Yukio hadn't forgotten Kushida's way of living was to desperately garner others' trust and learn their secrets, thereby maintaining a sense of superiority and feeling genuinely alive.

"No need, absolutely no need." Kushida was quite relaxed, her face brimming with a satisfied smile. Her slender legs, tightly wrapped in white over-the-knee socks, were unconsciously swaying gently, occasionally brushing against Yukio's knee, revealing her jubilant heart.

"Why would I need to soothe them? They're busy blaming Horikita right now, hahaha! Serves her right!" Kushida harbored a great malice towards Horikita.

Every time she saw Horikita in distress or being resisted by class members, she rejoiced as if she had won a prize, hoping the Class D students would insult her even more fiercely, and it would be best if they could directly force Horikita to withdraw from school!

"So, I came here." Kushida didn't miss Yukio's question, explaining the reason before stating her purpose: "Class D is too busy blaming to leave any room for me."

"Seeing Horikita being scolded so harshly brings me so much joy, I couldn't wait to share this happy news with someone. After thinking it over, you were the only choice, Yukio-kun."

Yukio nodded, took a sip from his glass of juice, and then delved into Kushida's past: "What exactly is your grudge with Horikita?"

"I heard you cursing her by the school lake the first time I saw you leaning on the railing. What, did Horikita bully you in junior high, and you've been looking to get back at her in high school?"

This slightly provocative tactic immediately took effect, causing Kushida's joyful expression to freeze: "Hah? She could bully me? What a joke!"

"Besides, I had absolutely no interactions with Horikita during middle school; we weren't even in the same class," Kushida explained.

Yukio, after observing carefully, concluded that Kushida wasn't lying. This raised the question: without any personal grievance, why would Kushida go out of her way to trouble Horikita and even wish for her expulsion?

Was she so committed to this cause that she would sacrifice something as precious as a girl's dignity just to see Horikita expelled?

Perhaps noticing Yukio's deliberately puzzled expression, Kushida slightly restrained herself, her previously sunny demeanor fading: "Like you, she knew my secret."

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it," Yukio said, showing keen interest and casually placing his hand on her thigh to enjoy the unique texture of her stockings, both smooth and not, addictively so.

Kushida glanced at Yukio but made no move to resist or protest, instead taking a large gulp of juice, her expression darkening: "I realized I had no special talents that could surpass geniuses."

Kushida began by sharing her experience of becoming just another face in the crowd after elementary school: "Later, I found out I couldn't be the first in academics, sports, or even looks."

"But in gaining people's trust, I could consistently be at the top. Yukio-kun, do you know? Back then, the entire school trusted me because I could recall the names of all the staff and students."

"With my appearance and deliberately sweet smile, it was easy to become popular."

"Then, my classmates, trusting me too much, shared their little secrets with me, asking me to keep them confidential."

"Hey! Yukio-kun, can you understand that excitement? Boys saying which girl in class is annoying, girls finding certain boys disgusting, or conflicts between boys and resentment among girls, that thrill of having everyone confide their innermost thoughts to you, it's too compelling to let go!"

Yukio just quietly listened to the story, occasionally nodding in rhythm with Kushida's narration, his hand never stopping on her stockings, seemingly enjoying the sensation while urging her to continue.

Kushida was immersed in her past; at first, her expression was fine, but as she continued, her face became increasingly grim and dark: "What disgusted me was!"

"They trusted me, yes, but they treated me like a trash can! Perhaps because they believed I wouldn't gossip, they used me as a machine for venting negative emotions, telling me anything that bothered them."

"At first, I was quite happy, thinking I was being trusted more. But as the negative emotions piled up, I got more and more annoyed! I even felt nauseated and wanted to throw up!"

A flicker of understanding appeared in Yukio's eyes, probably marking the period when Kushida's ability to gather others' dark secrets had fully developed.

As if recounting her past brought back unpleasant memories, Kushida instinctively drew closer to Yukio, resting her small head on his shoulder, seeking a bit of warmth: "So, in the end, I couldn't take it anymore."

"I wrote all their dark secrets on a forum, and suddenly I felt much better.

"But one day, a classmate discovered the forum and immediately confronted me, because she had only shared that secret with me."

"The result was that I was exposed, and everyone started to ostracize and insult me. Pfft! They didn't even consider that if they hadn't dumped their negative emotions on me recklessly, I wouldn't have known all their dark secrets! This was their karma!"

"Anyway, I couldn't stand being there anymore, so I thought they shouldn't have it easy either! I exposed all their secrets, and Yukio-kun, you wouldn't believe how hilarious the situation became."

"Several boys actually started fighting over something a girl in the class said, and some girls, who usually looked down on each other, ended up pulling each other's hair and scratching faces after hearing the secrets. The scene was so funny, I'll never forget it for the rest of my life."

Kushida went on to share much more, mainly about how chaotic her middle school class had become after she exposed the secrets, with everyone having conflicts and fighting joyously.

"Eventually, the school had to step in, dissolve that class, and either shuffle some students into other classes or send them to different middle schools."

"I was also informed by the school about the existence of the Advanced Nurturing High School, which only admits 160 students per year. I thought coming here would allow me to keep my secret safe, unknown to others."

"But of all people, Horikita came here too!"

Yukio understood completely: "So, you want to drive Horikita away just because she was from your middle school and might know about your past, or might not? You're afraid that if it gets exposed, it's better to have her gone?"

Kushida lightly tapped Yukio's shoulder, as if to acknowledge: "You'll help me, right? We had a deal."

"That depends on your sincerity." Yukio continued to caress the stockings, making Kushida's face flush.

"Don't worry, I'm full of sincerity."

"Uh-huh, indeed quite fair—no, I mean, quite full of sincerity."

***

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