Class-E, The Experiments

Chapter X: Cracks in the Masks

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Ayanokouji Kiyotaka POV

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I moved up the stairs with calculated precision, my steps steady and deliberate. The rooftop—isolated and out of sight—was the perfect place for what was about to happen. I had scouted out several locations beforehand, considering every possibility, but this spot would provide both privacy and control. Everything was falling into place, as usual.

I could feel Bellflower's eyes on me. Kushida was following, just as I had anticipated. She probably thought she had the upper hand, that she could twist the situation in her favor. But she was mistaken. The cracks in her mask were starting to show, and this conversation would reveal much more than she intended.

As I approached the final few steps to the rooftop, I let my mind wander momentarily. Kushida Kikyou—the charming, bubbly girl loved by almost everyone in class—had a much darker side hidden beneath that facade. The problem with masks, though, is that they eventually start to slip, and once they crack, there's no hiding the truth.

The door to the rooftop creaked slightly as I pushed it open, stepping into the cool morning air. I didn't turn around. There was no need to. I knew Kushida would follow me up here. She was desperate to gain control, and that desperation would make her reckless.

I walked toward the edge of the roof, taking in the view of the campus below, waiting for her to make the first move.

"Ayanokouji-kun," her voice came from behind, the sweetness barely masking the tension underneath. "You wanted to talk?"

I didn't answer immediately, letting the silence hang between us for a moment longer. The tension thickened, and I could feel her growing unease. Finally, I turned around, meeting her gaze. Her smile was still there, but her eyes... her eyes betrayed her.

"Why the rooftop?" she asked, still maintaining that bubbly persona, though there was a nervous edge to it now.

"Privacy," I said simply. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

Kushida's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something darker crossing her face before she quickly smoothed it over. "Privacy for what, exactly?" she asked, tilting her head, trying to feign innocence.

I met her gaze evenly, my face a blank slate. "You know exactly why we're here."

For a brief second, I saw the mask slip, a flash of irritation crossing her face before she caught herself. She was good at this, but not perfect. The cracks were beginning to show. This would be the moment that defined our next move.

This wasn't just a conversation. It was a game, and I intended to win.

"I see... Do you intend to keep blackmailing me with my past, Ayanokouji-kun?" Kushida's voice dripped with false sweetness, her usual facade barely holding together. It was a last-ditch effort to maintain control, but the cracks were showing. And once those cracks appeared, it was only a matter of time before they shattered completely.

"And if I said I do?" I replied, keeping my tone casual, as if I wasn't particularly invested in the outcome. In truth, Kushida was useful as leverage, a tool I could wield when necessary. But tools like her were unpredictable. If left unchecked, she could become a liability.

This place was perfect for what needed to be done. The roof's blind spots, the lack of working cameras—it was as if the school had designed it for moments like these. The loopholes in this system worked to my advantage. No one would know what happened here unless I allowed it.