Today was the day, the clash of academics between Class A and Class D. Kamuro woke up from a quite uncomfortable position. She had cried herself to sleep last night. The whole ordeal was too much for her. She was grateful that hashimoto had not pressed even further, because she didn't know what she would have done under that amount of mental stress.
As she looked at the dress she was wearing, she cringed at the odor of beer. She sighed and got up to change her uniform. She looked in the mirror, she looked disastrous and miserable.
She shook her head and made her way to take shower. As drops of water fell from the shower, she just stared lifelessly at the mirror in her bathroom.
After drying her hair, she made her way to the closet. As she opened her wardrobe, she found her clothes to be scattered. It seems her closet was also ransacked by Kitō and Hashimoto. She searched for her other dress, which she found out was still untouched. She sighed and put it on, all while looking at the clock. She had studied enough for the examinations, so she wasn't worried about them at all.
They had submitted the question paper almost a week ago. And Kamuro was positive, that the paper was set on Class A student level. There was no way Class D was getting through them.
As she exited her room she again thought about the ordeal she was caught in. What if Hashimoto asked her about her connection to Ayanokouji?
The day when Kamuro had met Ayanokouji had strictly warned her to stay away from his life. But, she still couldn't get over the fact that she had heard someone describe death so casually. She shook her head from those thoughts, she needed to focus on the other issue.
How did Hashimoto know what happened to her sister? Was he somehow connected to that incident, or was he in her previous school? Many people obviously knew what had happened to her sister. It was not possible to keep it a secret from everyone after all.
As she reached the class she found nearly every Class A student sitting relaxed. It seemed that they had studied quiet well and were confident enough. Kamuro didn't dare look at Hashimoto and made her way to her seat which was just next to Sakayanagi.
She sighed and started to think, did Sakayanagi reveal about the beer she stole. But now that the secret was out should she really follow Sakayanagi?
"Good morning Masumi san."
Sakayanagi's voice broke her line of thoughts. Kamuro didn't bother to look at Sakayanagi and just nodded in acknowledgement. Sakayanagi raised her eyebrows at her strange attitude but didn't comment any further.
Mashima Sensei entered the Class and relayed the instructions to all the students. And soon the papers were distributed and the exams commenced. The paper was very well set by Class D, Kamuro never expected Horikita to be so academically talented.
All the questions revolved around applications, which by no means was easy. As the questions were application based, there was not a single chance of rote learning the questions. So, it took more time than expected for Kamuro to complete her answers. Overall, the paper went very well for her.
But...
Suddenly hashimoto stood up.
"Sensei"
Mashima sensei turned towards the blond boy in confusion.
"What's the matter Masayoshi, I've already collected your Response sheet."
Hashimoto glanced at Kamuro for one split second, his smirk sending shivers down her core. Sakayanagi looked at the scene with her eyebrows furrowed. It seems her own dogs were acting behind her back.
Hashimoto pointed to the seat, front of him. And there he was, sweating nervously a on his seat, Totsuka Yahiko.
Katsuragi immediately sot up on his seat, "What is the meaning of this hashimoto, what are you up to?"
Hashimoto just kept looking at Yahiko and asked his teacher, "Sensei, could you please check his pockets."
Mashima sensei raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"And why would I do that without any valid reason?" He asked crossing his arms.
"Yeah that's right, there is no reason to check." Yahiko said nervously stuttering.
Hashimoto now turned serious, "I saw Yahiko cheating in this Exam."
Yahiko stood up and glared at hashimoto, "You... you set me up."
Hashimoto didn't bother to look at Yahiko, he had all his attention on Mashima Sensei. Mashima Sensei made his way in front of Yahiko's seat.
Yahiko now looked at his teacher with a terrified expression on his face. "Sensei.." He called out in a low voice.
Mashima sensei sighed and said, "Yahiko please stand up and allow me to inspect you."
Yahiko stood up and said, "Sorry sensei, but you can't just accuse me out of thin air. Are you seriously believing him?"
"I believe I'm the teacher here, so the one to make decisions is solely me and not Hashimoto nor you. Take this as a normal check, I don't mind." Mashima Sensei said in a stern tone towering over the boy. Nearly everyone in Class A felt a shiver to their core, they had always taken Mashima Sensei to be the calm and peaceful one.
Yahiko sat down and looked at Katsuragi. Katsuragi was glaring at hashimoto and said, "Hashimoto, don't tell me you set him up."
Hashimoto just chuckled, "On what basis are you making this claim. Does he have any proof that 'I set him up' as he is Levelling Allegations against me?"
That's when Yahiko realized how helpless he really was at the moment. He remembered his meeting with hashimoto last day.
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Flashback
Hashimoto stood in front of Yahiko leaning on the wall. Kitō was just behind him. Yahiko was glaring at the boy.
"Why have you called me here?" Yahiko asked the blonde-haired boy.
Hashimoto just chuckled, "Man you and Kamuro are really a pain in the ass, I mean don't you understand the meaning of gentle?"
Yahiko grabbed hashimoto collar, "Why the fuck did you call me here. What is to do with Katsuragi San."
Hashimoto smirked and looked at Kitō. Kitō nodded and took out a paper. Yahiko looked at the scene in confusion. But his eyes widened when he heard hashimoto,
"These are the answers of the question paper Class D has set."
Yahiko moved back in shock, "How... how did you get this."
Hashimoto raised his eyebrows, "I don't see how that is any of you concern. But... I believe Katsuragi is your concern."
"What is Katsuragi San's connection with all this." Yahiko asked while glancing at Kitō who was staring at him with an unreadable expression on his face.
Hashimoto just sighed, "Think about it carefully, do you really think you can still stay in Class A?"
"huh, wh..what do you mean by that ?" Yahiko asked stuttering in confusion.
"Do you even have an idea what is going behind the back of the class? From your idiotic face, I'll guess you are still stuck up in your Katsuragi fetish. I'll let you on a secret, the thing is, Sakayanagi is planning to kick you and Katsuragi from the class."
At this Yahiko's eyes widened and he looked at hashimoto who had a serious expression on his face, "But.."
"Do you really think I am lying. Haven't you seen yourself these last moths since the uninhabited island test? Nearly the whole class has been plotting against you two?" Hashimoto said putting his hand on Yahiko's shoulder. Yahiko was so occupied with his thoughts that he didn't even notice hashimoto's hand, a feeling of fear enveloped his mind.
"But why are you telling me this, you are on her side too aren't you." Yahiko asked the oy to which hashimoto just replied, "I don't believe that expelling you and Katsuragi would do any good to the class. And again, I don't care about Sakayanagi, I only care about graduating from Class A. So, take my advice, Sakayanagi has instructed your exam partner to deliberately lower his score so that you can fail."
At this Yahiko's eyes widened. If his partner decided to betray him then he would have nowhere to go.
"But won't Sanichi Kun also be expelled then?" Yahiko asked him to which hashimoto just laughed.
"Well, that's a bet you have to make. I don't know about that but remember, once you are out of the Class, no one can save Katsuragi."
With that hashimoto put the answers in Yahiko's pockets and left the place with Kitō.
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Present
Yahiko looked and allowed Mashima Sensei to check his pockets. And there they were, in his right pocket, the answers to all the questions of the paper set.
Mashima sensei looked at hashimoto and then at Yahiko. He rubbed his forehead in anger, "What is the meaning of this Yahiko?"
Yahiko looked at Mashima sensei and started speaking, "Sir it was hashimoto who tol..."
"Don't you idiots have a will of your own. Stop speaking rubbish, even if he gave you the answer sheet, you made the choice to copy. Learn to accept your mistakes." Mashima sensei yelled at Yahiko. Yahiko looked down, ashamed at himself.
Mashima Sensei then turned towards hashimoto and searched his dress for any signs of cheating material too. Hashimoto just chuckled and let him do it.
Mashima sensei sighed on not finding anything and made his way to the podium,
"This is ridiculous behavior. You children are plotting against each other so early in the competition. Take my advice, this is the first year, your focus should be on increasing the trust on each other. But you idiots think that doing this is too cool. To be honest, I don't think this Class will be able to graduate as Class A."
Hashimoto just smirked with disinterest. Sakayanagi didn't have a smug look on her face, she was serious. Kamuro looked at the scene in horror.
"On the basis of evidences provided, I believe that our class will be losing a student today."
At this the expression on Yahiko's face changed, "No..No...please no."
Mashima Sensei ignored him and said, "Yahiko Totsuka please make your way to the faculty office."
With that Mashima sensei left the Class. The class was silent after he left and looked at Yahiko. Yahiko looked at Katsuragi, "I.. I'm sorry Katsuragi San for disappointing you."
Katsuragi shook his head, "It's not your fault Yahiko, we all know whose fault it is." He said turning and glaring at hashimoto.
Hashimoto just laughed and sat on his bench.
Katsuragi turned towards the entire Class, "Everyone here knows it isn't Yahiko's fault but still they all are quiet. This shows how selfish people you all are. Is this what you wanted Sakayanagi, because if its really what you want then you should be careful. Who knows today it was Yahiko who was removed, tomorrow it might be you on the other side of knife."
Sakayanagi remained quiet, surprising everyone. Yahiko turned away from Sakayanagi and exited the class, leaving behind the Class. Katsuragi was the next to exit the Class.
The next to stand up was Sakayanagi, "Hashimoto Kun, it seems you owe me some explanation."
Hashimoto laughed and stood up, "My pleasure, lead me princess."
Kamuro and Kitō also stood up and the quartet made their way out. On the way no word was spoken. The tension was clearly visible. They soon reached the roof.
Sakayanagi stood holding her cane with Kamuro right next to her. Hashimoto stood in front of them still smirking, while Kitō was on the door, keeping an eye on eavesdroppers.
"Start your pathetic story Hashimoto San."
Hashimoto just laughed and said, "It is as it looks, I eliminated competition for you."
"And who gave you the right to?" Sakayanagi asked the boy with a serious expression.
"The fact that you were doing things behind my back is enough for me to take things in my hand I believe. I had a chat with Kamuro too yesterday but the lady won't budge. Don't lie to me princess, the bet with Class D was intentional. It was as if you wanted to know what Class D would do. You had some kind of expectations from them."
Sakayanagi just remained quiet.
"That's when I came to the conclusion, Class D's victory at the uninhabited island test was not just luck, there was someone behind it all."
Kamuro had a nervous feeling, she didn't like the tension which was building up.
"So, I made a deal with someone from Class D."
At this Kamuro's eyes widened, "Don't tell me.."
Hashimoto just started laughing, "Yeah, I handed over the question paper Class A had to them. And they provided the question paper Class D made to me. And then the plan to expel Yahiko was made."
A cold wind blew, as the tension reached its peak.
"So that's all, so then I'll take my leave."
With that hashimoto started to make his way towards the exit when Sakayanagi spoke.
"Wait"
Hashimoto stopped in his tracks with a blank expression on his face. Sakayanagi said, "You said you met Kamuro san yesterday?"
At this a sinister smirk made it's way on Hashimoto's face.
"Yes princess, is there any problem?"
Sakayanagi turned towards Kamuro who was looking at both of them in confusion.
"Kamuro san, could you please check your pockets."
Kamuro had a nervous feeling and started to check.
And there, she found it.
The answer sheets were in her pocket too. Her face fell and she looked at hashimoto who had his back facing her. Hashimoto started to laugh, "Yes, yes you are right. That person from Class D made a deal with me, in which he made it clear that if I use the sheets to expel someone, then I have to do the same with Kamuro too. That is, today two people were supposed to be expelled from Class A."
Kamuro's knees gave up. She could think of only one person who could do this.
"You might be wondering, why I came to your dorm room yesterday. It was all a setup, Kitō put the answer sheet in your clean dress and I intentionally poured beer on the dress you were wearing. You were just being set up for expulsion."
Now it all made sense, but that did not explain how he knew about her sister and the can of beer. Before she could ask, hashimoto already gave the answer,
"About your sister, I honestly didn't know much. I only knew that something had happened to your sister in your past, that's what I was told from that person who I negotiated with. The can of beer was also told to me by him. In short he was the one who set up the whole plan." Hashimoto said with a shrug.
"But I'm still here in the school then.." Kamuro started to speak but was interrupted.
Hashimoto looked at Kamuro and said, "Oh about that, I betrayed our deal."
At this Kamuro looked at hashimoto in surprise, "But.."
Hashimoto just waved her off, "I'm not a pawn he can use, and I'm not the only one in the wrong."
"Huh what do you mean?" Kamuro asked in confusion.
Hashimoto turned serious, "I know one thing, he expected me to betray him from the start."
Sakayanagi was looking at the scene with seriousness. It seems she had underestimated him. He had managed to manipulate Class A into expelling someone.
Hashimoto sighed and smirked seeing Kamuro, "Kamuro, you better watch out."
Kamuro looked at hashimoto,
"Someone from Class D doesn't want you in the school."
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