Class-E, The Experiments

Chapter XIX: Slow Tick

"Posse?" I repeat, a faint trace of confusion slipping into my voice.

Akifumi only hums in response, lifting his cup for another sip, only to realize it's empty when nothing touches his lips. He stares at it for a moment, then sets it down with a quiet clink.

"He's got friends in every class," he begins, tone casual but deliberate. "And I mean very loyal friends. Childhood ones. More like followers, really, people who'll carry out Shiguko's every order, down to the last letter."

He leans back slightly, eyes drifting upward as if counting names on an invisible list. "Let's see... there's Ushiro Yuuga. Same class as me. Blond, slender, generally considered attractive. Former pimp-" he pops the last p exaggeratedly, "-drug dealer, etcetera, etcetera."

I already know where this is headed, and it's not uphill.

"Then there's Class C," he continues, tone turning faintly amused. "Madoka Hiro and Kuga Daichi. Madoka's a... special case. You could sum him up in three words."

I wait for him to finish, and immediately regret doing so.

"Cult-like. Deranged. Rapist."

He spaces the words out just enough to make each one land with weight.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the girl at the next table glance over her shoulder at him, then silently turn back to her drink.

"What's with you and saying horrid things in such a mundane setting?" I ask, my tone flat but edged with disbelief. This was getting ridiculous.

Akifumi doesn't miss a beat. "The pot calling the kettle black, dear boy," he replies with a cheery smile that doesn't match his words in the slightest. He leans back, picking up his empty cup again and idly twirling a finger around the handle.

"Anyway," he continues, "there's Kuga. Big guy. Practices judo. Confident, but cautious around certain people. Easy enough to piss off if you know which buttons to press." He gestures lazily with the cup, as though giving a casual lecture instead of listing off potential sociopaths.

"And then there's Senkouji Katsumi," he adds after a short pause, tilting his head slightly. "A real nutcase, that one. Seems to be a common trend among that little group, doesn't it?"

"Sounds like you'd fit right in, Akifumi," I say, keeping my tone as dry as humanly possible. Unsurprisingly, it only makes him laugh.

"Aren't you a comedic genius, Kiyotaka?" he says with a grin before waving a dismissive hand. "But no, you can't really use nutcases. They're too unpredictable. Dangerous, sure. But only if you let them be." He leans back, crossing one leg over the other, that smug, lazy confidence radiating off him as usual.

"Unfortunately for our dear schoolmates," he continues, "the background checks must've failed spectacularly. So now we've got the loony crew running around unchecked. But hey, nothing screams 'government institution' quite like absolute negligence." He pauses, looking off to the side with mock contemplation. "And definitely in Japan. Christ alive, the state debt's a shitshow."

What does that have to do with anything? is the only thought running through my head. Still, I decide to drop it and just nod along, it'll end sooner that way.

"Say, Kiyotaka, it's a real shame about that tea there, the one you barely touched. That costs points, you know," Akifumi says casually. I give him a blank stare. The tea doesn't even cost that much... this guy.

"What's with that look?" he adds, feigning offense. "We have to spend our money- I mean points responsibly. I just wasted points buying you tea."

I don't bother replying. Instead, I stand up, deciding that I've absorbed enough idiocy for one day. Akifumi laughs as I start to leave.

"Hey, hey-" he grabs me by the sleeve, tugging me back down into the chair. I let out a sigh and sit, deciding it's less trouble to let him finish whatever nonsense he's about to say.

"What?" I ask flatly.

In hindsight, I should've just ignored the alarm this morning. Ignored the noise complaints, the schedule, all of it. And slept through the entire weekend. A perfect, peaceful two days. Far away from any cane-wielding lunatic in red sunglasses.

Akifumi grins, leaning forward slightly. "Well, I just wanted to say, we could play a little game. Have some fun. Class A's a political dream right now. If you're up for it..." He taps the table once, his grin widening. "We can commit a little horseplay. Just give me a call."

"Maybe..." is all I give him.

That single word is apparently enough, because Akifumi laughs, stands, and stretches with exaggerated flair. "Welp, guess that's that then. This sure was fun, Kiyotaka. I'll make sure to call you up more for these little meetings." He adjusts his sunglasses, smirking. "Anyhow, I'll smell you later. There's a blond rat following me, and I can't let him know about me knowing you."

And just like that, he's gone, no further explanation about the so-called blond rat, no context, no anything. Typical.

Not that I care.

I pull out my phone and glance at the screen. A new notification flashes across it:

[14 points deducted from your balance]

...That bastard.

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Word Count: 4561

Date Posted: 14 oct. 2025