cote react to

part 7

What, did you meet her at this school?" Yahiko

he looked at both of us. "Yeah," I sighed, "we never met in the past".

Sakayanagi closed her eyes, "Yes, it did help. But for her own benefit, I suppose."

I should have been at the center of this situation and yet I felt like I was drifting past. No, drift is the wrong word. It was not a pleasant situation. I felt like I was in a fog, because I didn't know the urgency of the near-expulsion. This was everyone else's problem, not mine, so it just didn't register as important.

"What do you mean it's not your problem, Ayanaokoji-kun?" Kanzaki asked. I did not answer.

Ryuuen laughed. "Are you dumb or something, Kanzaki? Haven't you been watching? He's not your average guy."

"Ayanokoji-kun showed us intelligence from the way he fully understood the s-system in the hint given to us. Despite meeting and talking with Horikita-san for a few weeks, he already picked up on her personality. He showed great observation and deduction . skills in his thought process, especially when he expressed his opinion about our society." Katsuragi explained in more detail for the students to understand.

Horikita felt uncomfortable. He read her like an open book. She doesn't like that.

"Only a fool wouldn't use his innate abilities."

'Skills, huh?' Ryuuen watched Ayanokoji's reaction, but remained blank.

Matsushita mentally did a victory dance. "Ayanaokoji-kun, perhaps you are...holding back?" She smiled innocently.

"If I say yes, what are you going to do about it?" I accepted your challenge.

Shinohara's eyes widen, "Wait, so you're-"

I interrupted her, "It's not like Koenji and I are the only ones holding back, am I?" I waited for her to take the bait. He seemed to have realized that he had fallen into my trap. Now all our companions looked at us confused.

"What did he mean by that, Chiaka-chan?" Sato asked.

Those words stuck in my head.

"A fool, huh? I wonder if that's what I am after all."

As I closed the window, the cacophonous laughter from the television washed over me.

I couldn't fall asleep, so I got up and left. I bought some juice from the vending machine in the lobby and headed for the elevator.

"¿Mmm?"

I could see that the elevator had stopped at the seventh floor. Curious, I decided to check the CCTV, which showed what was happening inside the elevator car. I saw Horikita, still dressed in her school uniform.

"¿Horikita-san?"

"Where does she go at night?"

"It's dangerous to go out at night, Horikita-san." Ichinose voiced her concerns.

"Well, I don't really need to hide, but..."

Seeing her might be awkward right now, so I hid behind the vending machine. Horikita reached the first floor. Taking a wary look at her surroundings, she left the building. After she disappeared into the night, I decided to follow her. However, I instinctively hid again after turning the corner. Horikita stopped short. I felt that another person was with her.

"Suzune. I didn't think you'd follow me this far," he said.

"Who is that?" Ishizaki asked.