August 9th, 3:30 PM.
"I guess that explains a lot of what happened." Ichinose held her chin with a somber expression.
"We left out some details, of course. I hope you don't mind," I said.
"Oh, no problem. We're already grateful for the fact that you shared some information at all. Right, Kanzaki-kun?"
"Yes. We've done a lot of theorizing, and even though the conclusion we had was accurate, we wouldn't have confirmed anything if it weren't for your help," he nodded.
Ichinose wanted answers, so I gave her some. I didn't ask for anything in return since Ichinose wouldn't either if she was in my position.
"All of us got a taste of how unforgiving the special tests can be. In the end, we're all going to compete against each other. That said, do you still want to continue our alliance?" asked Horikita.
"You're right, Horikita-san. One simple mistake threw our hard work down the drain. Ayanokouji-kun's extreme measures led Class B to victory while we stayed naive." Ichinose smiled bitterly before facing us with a serious expression. "However, I want my class to improve, too. I want everyone in Class C to grow at their own pace. That's why our current goal is to maintain our position while looking for opportunities to take the lead."
"Ichinose and I have anticipated your question, Horikita-san. As we are now, overtaking Class B let alone Class A is a tough feat. That's why we want to prioritize stability," added Kanzaki.
"In other words, you intend to keep the alliance intact," said Horikita.
"That's right. Having Class B as an ally would certainly help us down the line," Ichinose replied with a smile.
"Wouldn't Class A be a better option as an ally?" she asked.
Well, a question like that would be right up Ichinose Honami's alley.
"Is that what your logic states, Horikita-san?"
"Yes, I think it's a very reasonable query."
"Well, the answer is obvious. Ayanokouji-kun is a close friend of mine. If I were to choose between him or Class A, there wouldn't even be a competition." With a bright smile, Ichinose shed light on the piece that Horikita missed. "That's what my logic states."
"A friend... I see," she pondered.
The old Horikita might've called it nonsense. But given her growth along with Ichinose's abilities, she took her words very seriously.
"It's because I can trust Ayanokouji-kun to some degree. I've known him since the first week of school, you know? We've been friends even before the S-System got revealed to us."
"Trust, huh...?"
"Oh, nevermind. That's not the case for you guys, right? After all, someone figured out the S-System in your class from the very start-- someone smart... very smart~." Ichinose eyed me with a teasing smirk.
As expected, Class A and D weren't the only ones who would find me out. After all, it's Ichinose we're talking about.
"It was only a matter of time," I shrugged. "I, along with the class, withheld that information for a whole month. Sorry if I didn't say anything even though we were already friends back then."
"Ahaha! Don't worry about that, Ayanokouji-kun! It's surprising for sure. But I think our class would've done the same thing, to be honest." Ichinose joyfully deflected my apology. She probably didn't want me to feel guilty about it.
"You've shown great academic excellence and athleticism since the start of school. You also figured out the truth about the S-System before anyone else. And of course, you've been leading Class B while producing stellar results." Kanzaki narrated with his usual expression. "No matter how anyone looks at it, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is one of the most excellent students in our year, if not the entire student body... That's why your placing in Class D is a big mystery to everyone."
The atmosphere tensed up for a brief second before Kanzaki continued.
"Well, if our theories about the class distribution are correct, then I guess Class D lucked out with getting you," he shrugged, smilingly. "Even if they consider your lack of social abilities as a flaw, placing you in Class A or B would still be appropriate, I think."
"Ooh, Ayanokouji-kun in our class, huh? Wouldn't that be fun?" giggled Ichinose.
"If you were in our class, we might be Class A by now," said Kanzaki.
Interesting. I wonder what would've happened if I were to be placed in Ichinose's class right at the start.
"Ayanokouji-kun is our class leader. There's no use in fantasizing about something that won't happen," sighed Horikita.
"Oh, but it can happen, Horikita-san." Ichinose faced her with a meaningful smile. "If we can obtain 20 million private points... then it's but one transaction away."
Horikita's expression shifted almost imperceptibly, but she didn't lose her cool.
"20 million points are useless if the person himself doesn't want to go, right?"
Horikita and Ichinose faced me with different expressions. Kanzaki glanced away indifferently. Hey, don't leave me out here...
"Ayanokouji-kun, what do you think?" asked Ichinose.
"Yeah, what do you think?" followed Horikita.
"I'm sure you have a lot of friends in your current class, but everyone in mine would welcome you all the same. I'd even rescind my own leadership for you if you want."
The wrong answer could spell my death.
"Well... I'm sure it'll be fun to be in the same class as you guys..." Horikita's face started to resemble that of an oni-- a beautiful oni, but an oni regardless. "But I'll stick with my current class. It'd be pretty weird to transfer classes without a proper reason, anyway."
After hearing the rest of my statement, Horikita glanced at Ichinose with a neutral expression. I noticed the slight twitch of her lips-- as though she was keeping herself from smirking.
"Ah, what a bummer. My classmates would've been overjoyed if you said yes." Ichinose shrugged while chuckling as if she expected my answer from the start. "It was worth the try, though."
To be honest, it felt strange seeing Ichinose tease Horikita like that. Horikita wasn't even aware that she was being teased.
"That's enough for the jokes, Ichinose. We've conveyed our intentions quite clearly with this meeting," sighed Kanzaki. "We won't inconvenience you any longer, Ayanokouji, Horikita-san."
"Ahaha~! My bad just now, Horikita-san. It must've been the 90-minute full-body massage that I spent with Hoshinomiya-sensei earlier."
Ah... That explains it.
August 9th, around 6:00 PM.
"Ayanokouji-kun, did you wait long?" Ichihashi scuttled near as soon as she saw me.
"I just got here," I replied.
The two of us were currently hanging out on the starboard side of the ship's main deck. I subtly glanced towards the girl beside me and observed her appearance. The cute hair clip that I've rarely seen her wear, the smell of feminine perfume, a hint of make-up on her face, and a very simple yet fashionable set of clothes...
Ichihashi was a pretty girl, to say the least. Combined with her efforts to look attractive, she could make any man's heart race.
I had a feeling that things would end up like this, but I never had any real expectations until now.
"Do you wanna get something to eat?" I asked.
"Let's stay here." Ichihashi held the railings and savored the breeze with a smile. "The sunset looks really pretty. It'd be a shame to miss it when we're already here."
"I see..." I sighed, turning my gaze towards the endless blue and orange gradient surrounding the ship.
I'll give her the reins of this conversation. Apart from giving a response, I don't think I can do much.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Ichihashi faced me with a serious expression.
"I'm sure you've noticed it but..." Ichihashi smiled bitterly. "I like you, Ayanokouji-kun. It's been that way for a while now."
I returned her stare as a sign of my attention, but I chose to stay silent.
"You don't look surprised. Well, even if you were surprised, it's not like it'd show on your face, anyway," she chuckled.
"You know me too well."
"I'm closer to you than most of the girls in the class, after all... if you don't count Maya, Chiaki, Kikyou-chan, Karuizawa-san, Hasebe-san, Sakura-san, and Horikita-san." Ichihashi smilingly shrugged with a defeated expression.
She was right. If I were to be critical about my social relationships, then those seven girls would be my closest female friends in the class. Between Ichihashi, Mori, Mii-chan, and Onodera... Well, either of them could come in eighth, I guess.
Of course, subtle technicalities like closeness couldn't really be ranked... And that hardly matters right now.
"Would you become my boyfriend?"
Ichihashi Ruri. She was strong-willed like Karuizawa and mature like Matsushita. If I accept her confession, I might just get the normal high school life that I always wished for. Unlike Inogashira, she'd be a lot more resilient if my enemies ever attempt to target her.
However...
"I'm sorry."
Even after hearing my answer, Ichihashi's smile didn't break.
"I see. To be honest, I already expected this outcome." Ichihashi rested her forearms on the railings with a sigh. "Has any other girl confessed their feelings to you yet, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"One," I replied honestly.
"Ohh, someone beat me to the punch, huh? They're good," Ichihashi chuckled before her expression turned melancholic. "But you rejected her, too."
"Yeah, I did. I also told her that it didn't really matter whether it was her or any other girl. I just felt like getting in a relationship right now isn't the right choice."
"Ahaha, that's unfortunate. Not just for her or for me."
"I've heard about it. Some girls in the class see me in a romantic light, correct?"
"Mhm~. Do you find that strange?"
"Personally, I do... But..."
"Objectively speaking, you can say that it's perfectly natural." Ichihashi tilted her head with a smile. "You're smart, athletic, kind, cool, and handsome. The other hottie in our class, which is Hirata-kun, is already taken by Karuizawa-san. Developing a crush on you would make a lot of sense."
There's also the fact that the other guys in our class rarely act desirable around the girls. The same goes for Kouenji, who's treated like a weirdo by them. Ken and Yukimura might become popular at some point given their own merits, and according to Ichinose, a girl in her class has a crush on Akito. Mature-types like him and Kikuchi are very rare, especially since we're just in our first year.
Apart from those four, though...
"Is it alright if we stay friends?" she asked.
"That was my intention from the start."
"Then, I'm satisfied."
Unlike Inogashira's initial reaction, Ichihashi received my rejection with a considerable amount of composure. She'd obviously feel downtrodden, but she's not showing any obvious signs of emotional turmoil.
I wonder what I can do to cheer her up even a little. Maybe we could grab a bite?
"It's getting late and cold. Do you wanna drop by a restaurant or cafe for dinner?"
"Just now, were you thinking about how composed I am?" Ichihashi asked with a smirk.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"A woman's intuition, I guess," she answered with a teasing smile. "Or at least... that's what I would've said."
Ichihashi retreated herself from the ship's edge and sat on the bench behind us.
"Normally, our conversation would've ended right after you rejected me. I might've run away crying while you reached your hand out to my running figure. Oh~! What a tragedy!" She skillfully and dramatically mimed the scenario. "But because I stayed and continued smiling, you invited me out for dinner instead, maybe with the hopes of cheering me up. You clearly thought getting rejected didn't affect me that much."
At that moment, I realized my mistake.
She's right. I'm an idiot. Of course, she was hurt. The fact that I didn't pick up on that instantly reflects my inexperience.
"I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, Ayanokouji-kun. You don't have to feel guilty at all. I know you enough to tell that there wasn't anything bad with your intentions. In fact, I even feel grateful." Ichihashi continued to smile as she explained. "Ahaha... Really, that's such a you-move. Ah, don't worry, though. A lot of the girls find your innocence about romance quite charming."
Matsushita and Kikyou might've mentioned something like that before.
"I'll stay here," I said.
Ichihashi has indirectly told me about her current feelings. She was putting up a tough front this whole time.
"I see... Then, I think I'll be going ahead of you. Be sure to come inside soon. You might catch a cold," Ichihashi replied as she stood up.
She turned around without breaking her smile. I could hear her fading footsteps subtly increase in speed. And just like that, I've hurt another person without intending to do so.
Ichinose's right. It does feel awful...
Right now, I'm feeling emotionally uncomfortable. It's not pleasant, it's not delightful, nor is it gratifying in any way.
Surely, it's not a good feeling, but I could finally feel something, even if it's just a tiny bit of sadness. And ironically, it made me... happy. My curiosity heightened and I thought I really wanted to learn more.
Author's Notes:
Ichihashi's personality is canon.