I couldn't get to sleep, so I got up and left. I bought some juice from the lobby's vending machine and headed back for the elevator.
"You know," Shibata uttered, "This has been on my mind since earlier, but is there any reason as to why we are watching this from Ayanokouji's perspective?" as he looked at his classmates for an answer.
"Agree. I get the point that 'the screen's' motivation is to reveal this information to us. If we hadn't watched the previous video, it would probably be certain that we're not going to know how Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-kun planned to make Class C withdraw their complaint. But if that's the whole point of this event, shouldn't we watch this whole stuff from their leader's perspective?" Amakura voiced out her confusion.
Kanzaki stated his observation, "I don't know. There's probably a reason why we're watching it from his perspective and not from Horikita or Hirata. We saw him earlier manipulate Class D's leader to form a plan and easily analyze every class's strengths and weaknesses. Maybe the whole point of this is to let everyone know there's something about him that doesn't meet the eyes," as he looked at me while uttering the last words.
Ike, who had been listening to the conversation from the start, frantically jumped in surprise, shouting, "Seriously?! Aren't we going to be underhanded then?! The other classes can take this as an opportunity to analyze our entire class and then exploit the information they can gather!"
Horikita sighed, expressing through her body language how disappointed she was how they were only now grasping the situation. "That's true. That's why I advised against letting necessary information slip. We don't know what the following contents will be, but judging from the upcoming content, it looks like most of the videos will be about our class. It's better to be prepared than to be caught off guard."
"I agree!" Kushida, Class D's Madonna, exclaimed. "If we look at this on the positive side, this could be the perfect opportunity to understand and build relationships and bonds with each other!" She said, encouraging the other students.
"And with this, we could also possibly see how Horikita-san managed to win the island exam! We never knew the details about it," shouted one of my classmates.
Hirata smiled, observing their enthusiasm. He then turned to me and apologized for the breach of my privacy. I immediately reassured him that it's all right, and there's nothing we can do about it. Once again, I'm impressed by how kind this guy is and how he views others. Truly a kind guy.
The video continued.
"Hmm?"
I could see that the elevator had stopped on the seventh floor. Curious, I decided to check out the CCTV, which showed what was happening inside the elevator car. I saw Horikita, still dressed in her school uniform.
Horikita appeared worried, biting the tip of her finger in anxiety. She probably had already noticed what would happen in the following moments.
"You looked like you're in a rush, Horikita-san. Where are you going at this late hour?" Maezano asked, confused.
"Well, I don't really need to hide, but..."
Seeing her might be awkward right now, so I hid behind the vending machine. Horikita arrived at the first floor.
Looking wary of her surroundings, she exited the building. After she'd vanished into the night, I decided to follow after her.
"W-wait! Why were you following her?!"
Shinohara cried as she watched me on the screen following Horikita behind her back.
I shrugged. "I'm just curious as to why she's out late at night. This is not the time for students to wander around, and it's out of Horikita's character, so I figured there's probably something going on."
"That's what every stalker says!"
I ignored her.
Horikita, sitting to my right, glared at me. "I didn't notice your presence there, not even a bit, which makes me wonder, are you this skillful at stalking others, Ayanokouji-kun?" She raised her eyebrows.
I dismissed her idea. "It's probably because you're too worried about what's going to occur next, Horikita, that you completely lost the sense of sensing that I'm following you."
However, I instinctively hid again after I turned the corner.
Horikita stopped in her tracks. I sensed another person was with her.
A silhouette of some tall, slender guy was seen in front of Horikita. Due to the dim light in the surroundings, the students couldn't see who this mysterious person Horikita is meeting is..
"Suzune. I didn't think you'd follow me this far," he said.
Had she left in the dead of night to rendezvous with some guy?
"Ehh?? Horikita-san has a boyfriend! And is using her first name?!"
"T-there's no way that is right.. Right...?" Sudou stuttered while speaking, asking us to deny what he's thinking.
Horikita bluntly denied it, "Don't fool around, I'm just meeting with my brother. I don't have a boyfriend, and I'm not planning on having one," shutting down everyone's speculation about what this guy's relationship with Horikita would be.
Sudou, upon hearing it, appeared relieved. It looks like he didn't hear about what Horikita said rejecting the idea of having a boyfriend, or maybe he purposely didn't think about it? Good luck Sudou. I supported him in my mind
"Hmph. I'm far different from the useless girl you once knew, niisan. I came here to catch you."
"Catch me, hmm?"
Niisan? In the dark, I couldn't see the person she was talking to. Was she meeting her older brother?
Ike looked at Horikita and to the screen back and forth. Horikita, upon noticing his weird action, finally uttered a "what?" under her breath.
"No, it's just that the Horikita I'm seeing on the screen and the one who's in here appears to behave differently. You looked cute there. Do you probably have a brother complex?" he said. He got stabbed with Horikita's compass, and as he writhed in pain, rolling down on the floor.
Ike, there are times when even if you have something to say, you just have to read the mood and shut up.
"I heard you were placed in Class D. I suppose nothing has really changed in the last three years. You've always been fixated on following me, and as a result you don't notice your own flaws. Choosing to come to this school was a mistake."
"Hey, even if he's your older brother, it's still pretty rude for him to talk to you like that," Shinohara voiced her opinion.
Horikita: "That's none of your business."
"Kukuku," someone let out a crude laugh. "So the reason why you enrolled in this school, Suzune, is for you to seek your brother's approval, eh?"
Horikita awkwardly gazed at the ground. The feeling of being watched by every student body, revealing the vulnerable side of her on the screen, probably got into her.
"That's... You're wrong about that. I'll show you. I'll reach Class A right away, then-"
"It's pointless. You will never reach Class A. In fact, your class will fall apart soon enough. Things at this school aren't as simple as you think."
"That's not true! Horikita-san ha-"
Horikita raised her hand, halting the girl from continuing to speak.
"While it's true that we had managed to gain a lot of points during the uninhabited island exam, we can't ignore the fact that our class did experience falling apart, being uncooperative, fighting with each other. Ignoring this would just make you hypocritical. Moreover, I would like for you all to avoid commenting about me and my brother. What comes from us should only stay between us," she said as a matter of fact.
"Jeez! What is her deal!" The same girl let out a small grumble as she sat back on her chair, folding both her arms.
"I will definitely, definitely reach-"
"I told you, it's pointless. You really are a disobedient little sister."
Horikita's brother stepped closer to her. From my hiding spot, I could see him plainly.
It was Student Council President Horikita.
"Eh! The student council president? He's Horikita-san's brother!?" exclaimed Ike, with Sudou, Yamauchi, and a few other students sharing their surprise.
Shinohara, together with Maizano and several members of Karuizawa's group nodded, "He's very much respected and well-known among the students. It is said that he's the best student council president that has ever been since the institution was established. I could understand why he doesn't want others to know that his sister is in Class D, as it can tarnish his reputation as the school's president. Wait, why am I explaining? Is it possible that you guys don't know that?"
The "idiot trio" let out a dry laugh. "Of course, we know. We saw him during the club recruitment day, and they share the same surname. It's common sense," Ike said, with others nodding along, their expressions clearly indicating that this was news to them.
"Wow," Komiya remarked, "I knew you guys weren't the brightest, but I didn't realize it was to this extent."
"Haha," Hondou added, "Class D truly operates on a different level."
He displayed no hint of emotion. It was like he was staring at an uninteresting object. He grabbed his younger sister by the wrist-she offered no resistance-and pushed her against the wall.
Sudou, as simp as he is, was the first to react "Oi! I understand you're siblings, and it's not my place to interfere, but that's going too far," he shouted, his fists clenched in frustration.
'Heh'
Ibuki couldn't help but smirk,'Who would've thought that, that stubborn, tough girl had a softer side,' as she observed Horikita making no attempt to resist, pinned against the wall. She recalled their encounter on the uninhabited island, where the girl she had faced had been resilient and unyielding, quite different from what she was witnessing now.
"No matter how I try to avoid you, the fact remains that you're my little sister. If people around here learned the truth, I would be humiliated. Leave this school immediately."
"I understand that he cares about his reputation, and as the student council president, he takes his position seriously, but hey, that's a bit harsh, considering both of you haven't seen each other for two years," Ike said.
"I-I can't do that... I will definitely reach Class A. I'll show you!"
"How incredibly stupid. Do you want to relive the pain of the past?"
"What does he mean by 'relive the pain of the past'? Is the president going to resort to violence against his little sister?" one person exclaimed.
"Isn't there a rule against violence within the institution? Just because he's the student council president doesn't make him an exception!" another chimed in.
"What a shitty older brother..."
the students began to hurl insults and criticisms at the student council president. While they might be right, I wonder if they would react the same if the person they're currently talking about is together with them. That was until someone interrupted.
"Kukuku, violations, you say?" he laughed aloud. "While it's true that no one is exempt from the rule, it doesn't matter if the act seems to not exist in the first place."
Hirata wore a worried expression as he inquired, "What do you mean by that, Ryueen-san? I'm afraid I do not follow "
"It's quite simple, really," Ryueen explained. "The student council president must have foreseen this situation, so he likely met with Suzune in a secluded, inconspicuous place where there were no witnesses. I doubt Suzune would report the incident to the authorities, considering she came to this school to gain her older brother's recognition. It's as if the violence never happened in the first place."
The students listened in awe at his explanation.
Class D students looked at their homeroom teacher for her opinion, but the teacher simply nodded as if saying that what Ryueen has said is correct.
Ibuki tsked. "Explains how he controls the class using an iron fist."
"Niisan, I..."
"You possess neither the abilities nor the qualities needed to reach Class A. Get that through your head."
"Thats not true at all. Horikita-san demonstrated good leadership as she brought her whole class to victory on a recent exam and has managed to score high marks on every test, qualifying her as an excellent candidate for Class A," is what some students would like to say. However, due to Horikita's nature of telling them not to get involved with her and her older brother's problem, they simply refrained from speaking out.
He moved forward, as if about to act. The situation looked fraught with danger. Resigned to facing Horikita's anger, I leapt out from my hiding space and went after her brother.
Before he knew I was there, I grabbed his right arm, which he was using to pin his sister.
'Whoa, he's fast!'
Every student's body resonated with the same thought as they watched what happened on the screen .
Sudou let out a sigh of relief, recognizing that I had saved Horikita from her older brother's grasp. "That was a close call," he remarked.
"What? You..." He stared at his arm and slowly turned to me with a sharp gleam in his eye.
"A-Ayanokouji-kun?!" Horikita cried.
Someone else pointed out, "Wait... Are we just going to ignore how quick he was to grab Horikita-senpai's right arm? Even Horikita-senpai didn't notice him."
Students turned their gaze towards me, seeking an explanation.
"I've got a quick leg."
"You were about to throw your sister to the ground, weren't you? You do realize the floor here is concrete, right? You might be siblings, but you should know the difference between right and wrong."
"Yeah, go tell him, Ayanon!" Hasabe Haruka cheered, playfully nudging Miyake, a fellow loner, to join in the cheer.
Wait, did I just get a new nickname? "Ayanon?" I wondered aloud. Miyake, noticing my confusion, explained, "That's just how Hasabe is, Ayanokouji. When she finds someone interesting, she gives them a nickname."
Listening to his words, I nodded. He then offered his right hand to me. "You probably know this, but I'm Miyake Akito from the archery club. I sit in front of you." I shook his hand and greeted back.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka"
It seemed like I had gained a new nickname and perhaps a few acquaintances in this unexpected turn of events.
"Eavesdropping is not an admirable quality," he said.
"Fine. Then let go."
"That's my line."
We glared at each other in complete silence.
"Whoa, dude, you've got guts! You should've backed down, though. I mean, it's the student council president we're talking about. You never know what could happen if you make an enemy of the student council." A student from class A said, nodding his head as he shared his opinion.
Another student voiced concern, "Uhh... Is this going to turn into a fight?"
"Stop it, Ayanokouji-kun," said Horikita, her voice strained. I'd never heard her voice like that before.
"But why? Ayanokouji-kun is just trying to help you, Horikita-san,"
Horikita nodded and then spoke slowly, "It's just that my brother probably has his own reasons for doing what he did."
Reluctantly, I released her brother. Instantly, he tried to backhand me in the face.
"Ayanokouji, look out!" Sudou shouted, even though the event on the screen had already transpired.
I instinctively took a step back to avoid it. For such a lightly built guy, he was a nasty attacker. He then aimed a sharp kick at my unguarded spot.
"Watch it!"
The students observed in silence as Ayanokouji swiftly evaded the student council attack on him.
He had enough power to knock me out with one blow. Looking slightly confused, he exhaled deeply, extended his right arm, and opened his hand.
If I grabbed his hand, he'd probably throw me to the ground. Instead, I slapped his hand away.
"What on earth? Did the student council president just attack Ayanokouji? What's even more incredible is how Ayanokouji skillfully dodged every attack!" Ike exclaimed, his eyes filled with amazement and disbelief.
"Seriously?!" the students murmured to one another, sharing their thoughts on what they had just witnessed, occasionally stealing glances at Ayanokouji as if studying him.
"Good reflexes. I didn't imagine you could evade all of my blows so quickly. Also, you seemed to understand quite well what I was trying to do. Have you been taught?"
After the attacks stopped, the questions began.
"Hey, Ayanokouji! What was that? I had no idea you knew how to fight!"
Yamauchi exclaimed, and while I initially sensed jealousy in his eyes, it was quickly replaced by amazement.
"What's with those reflexes!"
"Yeah! Those karate moves you used to evade Horikita-senpai's attacks! Even amateurs like us, who know nothing about fighting, can tell you're experienced!" another student chimed in.
Miyamoto nodded in agreement.
"President Horikita is impressive too. It's clear that one hit from his attack could deal a massive blow to someone."
Sotomura, adjusting his glasses, added, "You remained remarkably composed throughout the fight, even analyzing it. As expected of the main character."
Boys gathered around me, bombarding me with questions and expressing their amazement. From a distance, I noticed the girls from my class glancing at me and uttering the word "cool" under their breath.
Horikita glanced at me smugly, as if silently saying, "You must be enjoying all the attention you're getting right now."
'Like hell I was!'
"Ayanokouji is really something, Ken. Can you do that too?" Ike asked his best friend, Sudou.
Sudou frantically denied, "No way! I stand no chance, especially after seeing the student council president's attack."
"So are you admitting that in a fight, you'll lose to Ayanokouji, is that right?" Ike retorted, causing Sudou to stifle.
"Yes, I was taught piano and calligraphy. Also, when I was in elementary school, I won a national music competition," I said.
Ayanokouji's unexpected response left everyone momentarily stunned, and it took a few minutes for them to process what had just happened.
"So, Ayanokouji-kun is a talented individual..?" Amikura inquired.
Shibata chimed in, confused, "What does that have to do with their fight?"
Kanzaki interjected, "No, that's not the point right now. He's intentionally avoiding the question. It's clear that he's well-trained and experienced in fighting and martial arts." Looking at me with his sharp eyes.
Ryueen couldn't help but mull it over. "Kukuku." 'Ayanokouji! You are the best! Not only are you a shrewd individual, but who knows you also know how to fight! you can't really judge a person by their gloominess interior...' that's when he finally came to the realization. 'So, you're the mastermind behind Class D's success, huh?' " Kukukuku."
"That's insane, Ayanon! You're surprisingly skilled at fighting!" Hasabe shouted with excitement, throwing a playful punch into the air.
Miyake concurred, "Indeed. Do you practice martial arts, Ayanokouji-kun?" he inquired, directing the same question again at me.
"A little." There was no reason for me to lie.
"You're in Class D, too, aren't you? What a unique boy, Suzune."
'He certainly is' Horikita thought.
After he let go of his younger sister, he turned to face me.
"No. Unlike Horikita, I'm pretty incompetent."
Shibata, a student from Class B, offered heartfelt praise,
"No, no, you're pretty amazing, Ayanokouji-kun. Not only are you intelligent, but you're also skilled in fighting. If we take what you said at face value, you're also talented in playing the piano and calligraphy. Honestly, you should have more confidence in yourself!"
Shibata's words were sincere, and he seemed to be a truly supportive individual, he's like the male version of Ichinose. Great guy.
"Suzune, is this boy your friend? I'm honestly surprised."
"He's...not my friend. Just my classmate." Horikita faced her brother fully, as if denying him.
"Fufu" Sakayanagi chuckled, finding the situation quite amusing. 'I see, I now understand why she's labeled as a 'defective product.' If we were to judge solely based on her academic and intellectual abilities, she's certainly superior to most of the students in Class A. It's her pride and superiority complex that's holding her back. Although I shouldn't be one to talk, given that I have my own share of those traits,'
"You continue to confuse independence with solitude. And you, Ayanokouji. With you around, things might get interesting."
As the video came to an end, I could sense a shift in the impressions that the other students had of me. Some now found my existence dangerous, while others were cautious or curious, and some looked at me with amazement and awe. I couldn't help but wonder how long these sentiments would last, and what would happen when they eventually discovered my true nature.
Initially, I had thought this whole situation would be troublesome and disrupt my peaceful life, but now, for some reason, I found myself intrigued and even excited about the potential reactions of the students body.
He walked past me and disappeared into the night.
And with those final scenes, the video ended.
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