Basically rewrote the entire Ibuki reuniting with Kouji for palm reading again. Ignore the previous one, that's not canon.
Everyone after watching the video about ayanokoji manipulating everyone outcome on the island and then on how the lead his group to victory, and how he used karuizawa and turned her into his tool, they were able to see his excellence while at the same time his cruel and cold actions
(I cut the part in my fic where it shows that ayanokoji was the one who arranged bullying that will be revealed in vol 7 reaction that's why they think ayanokoji just used the opportunity to make her into his tool while also helping her from getting bullied)
Many people were afraid to think about what it could be that has happened to ayanokoji to make him like this ...he himself said there are darker things in this world that karuizawa hasn't seen yet..in a way he was clearly saying that the scar which karuizawa has isn't that dark when compared to his past
Class A didn't think much of ayanokoji's way of doing things since they have there princess who is also cruel and ruthless
Class B also didn't think much about the kind of actions ayanokoji chooses because they have ryuuen as their leader so they are used to such actions
Class C was thinking about how all other class leaders acts and how they aim for top, how there class is the only one who cares for each other but no other class seemed to believe in this friendship power
Class D students or should I say defects, whatever the case they just started throwing another stupid tantrum because author has just read another fic and now he wants to insult class D again
"S..see .. ayanokoji just blackmail you...he... just... see's us as his... pawns ...his methods are ....soo cruel .. that's why I can't accept him as our leader" okitani said
(shinohara and ike has already have suffered too much so author will show some mercy ......maybe not)
"Karuizawa-san aren't you angry at him, for what he did" Nene mori
"No, I am actually angry at you people because of whom he left the class" she said with a stern voice
Everyone was stunned at her words who were thinking about how cruel ayanokojis actions were but even then karuizawa was taking his side
As always Hirata had a warm smile seeing karuizawa standing for ayanokoji clearing his doubts
(Though little did anyone know under that warm smile there is a evil schemer residing their thinking about how to snatch his kiyotaka from karuizawa)
Some people like ichinose and hiyori were having problem understanding ayanokojis personality
"Those who are wondering how to see him from now on watch the next video and decide for yourself" kirito said
The day after I'd given up, though, I found myself moving toward the fortune-teller again.
Ibuki - "so it wasn't on purpose" she thought
Random class A student said who has a girlfriend - "wasn't that fortune teller for couples why are you alone"
Ayanokoji - "I learnt about that hard way when they kicked me out of the line"
Sakayanagi -" but you said 'again' that would mean you went there again ....who was it, you went there with because going alone again wouldn't make any sense" smug loli queen being protective of her king asked
Ayanokoji - " you will see that soon enough" he said
"Ah."
Everyone - "Ibuki-San !!!!!!"
Hiyori - "Ibuki- San you never told me about this that you are dating ayanokoji-kun" she said with a little saddened face
Ryuuen -" kukukukukhahahahaah, no wonder you were so stud head on that day refusing him to be mastermind"
Students were shocked with this new revealation and started to mutter among themselves and ichinose was thinking about stuff like what will she do now since her first crush has already been taken away, hiyori just has some saddened expression, ryuuen connecting the dots about why ibuki didn't wanted to admit him being the mastermind became more clear
Kei was thinking about what to do with his idiotic boyfriend because she knows no way in hell he would date ibuki in that time since he asked kei to take out the rc card not ibuki and he didn't show any mercy to her either on rooftop but she also understood why ibuki didn't wanted to admit it that day that he is the mastermind thinking how many more girls has his boyfriend has made them fall for him, kei decided that she will give him some lecture
Smug loli on the other hand was thinking about what to do to make him only her's and if not possible than only one more person will be allowed but ibuki doesn't fit the bill for her, so karuizawa was the only one who she is allowing to join, now time to formulate strategy for it
(I still am with arisu kiyo and kei ship or perhaps polyga*cough*cough*....see my thoughts are even purer than hiyori's)
Yet another bizarre meeting; fate had reunited me with Ibuki. We happened upon the same place at the exact same time.
Shibita -"So you guys aren't couples .....it's just a coincidence"
Hearing this ichinose felt a little relief, it may be true that she is right now having some problems related to ayanokoji's way of doing things and his cold nature and to top it all of his words about everyone being his tools, they are still lingering in her head but nevertheless she still want to keep believing him
Kanzaki -"What, coincidence shibita, he clearly used the word 'reunited' , that means that they are meeting again"
Hearing that ichinose became a little sad again
Shibita drew near to kanzaki and whispered into his ear -"if you don't want to die by hands of your classmates then don't say things which shouldn't be said"
Kanzaki looking in mako-chan gulped, she was throwing daggers at kanzaki through eyes not only her but all the other friends of mako
Nishino -"Indeed if not fate then how could you stumble at the same time in same place but why did you went there again ibuki-san"
People were confused about why ayanokoji and ibuki will go there alone again and were also surprised by the coincidence of there meeting
Professor -"Let me enlighten you all rookies, the situation is like this, ibuki-dono likes fortune telling and ayanokoji-dono just wanted to try out this fortune telling because of curiosity but yesterday they were kicked out but yet ayanokoji-dono's curiosity and ibuki-dono desire to see her fortune was too much that's why they decided to go there again like a kid watching his favorite toy from outside the window glass and not able to buy it because of not being given any money from there parents, then the kid just watches the toy even though they can't buy it
That's why both of them went there and now they will enter there together in the disguise of couple's that's the amount of knowledge I have accumulated from these anime I watch you normies"
Everyone was stunned by hearing him and they would normally try to ignore him but how he explained about a kid looking outside the window and even though he can't buy it and yet he still looks at it certainly explained why ibuki and ayanokoji went there again despite being single
Professor's evaluation increased to a certain degree and professor was thinking 'why do you think I am called professor'
"Why did you come here again? And by yourself?" Ibuki looked disgusted. I got the impression that I thoroughly repulsed her.
Ishizaki -"but you also went there didn't you"
Ishizaki received a kick in return
"I could ask you the same question," I countered.
"Well, I said that I like fortune-telling, didn't I? I thought maybe I could have my fortune read, even if I'm alone," she replied.
Random Class B student -"That fortune telling is clearly for couples why did you even hope you will get your fortune read alone"
Nishino -"You really do like fortune-telling ibuki-san, you are like a normal girl ibuki-san , why don't you hang out with me some day, that way you won't be a loner"
Ibuki -"Says a loner herself"
Nishino -"uuhhh, come on let's make a group for loners that way we won't be a loner anymore, Shiina-san, from today on you will be part of our group and ayanokoji-kun will also join us"
Haruka, airi, keisei, akito they all flinched at those words
Ibuki -"Why the hell would he join"
Nishino -"Huh....what do you mean I mean he is a loner like us right so wouldn't it be right to ask a fellow loner like us to join us and besides we all know him, ibuki-san you are going to have your fortune read with him so that means you two are close ....and shiina-san seems to be close to him too and besides even I have talked to him once and it was interesting"
Hiyori -"When did you talk to ayanokoji-kun nishino-san"
Nishino -"it was the just recently when ayanokoji-kun was talking to ishizaki-kun during the week of preparation of uninhabited island exam , I guess it was some problems related to ....Sorry I can't tell what things they were talking about"
Ryuuen -"Ishizaki you will tell me about this talk you have with him now" he said in a stern voice
Ishizaki looked at ayanokoji unconsciously and he nodded , then ishizaki went towards ryuuen and started to whisper
Ryuuen -"kukukukahahhaha.....I see...love rivalry ..is it haha ...you bastards are sure enjoying your youth"
Sakayanagi -"fufufu, and why do you think nishino-san I will give ayanokoji-kun to you"
Nishino -"eehh...." she started wracking her brain to come up with something to make class A princess fall and accept it ....now what to do thinking that she began........."You love him right sakayangi-san so you should let him have some friends and he knows about all of us so it will be easy for him to talk to us right right .....and besides ayanokoji wants to make friends atleast he said that in the starting of the videos' "
Sakayanagi was thinking about what to do with this talk she just put forward, it's true that ayanokoji wants to learn about all these new things and sakayangi also understands that and if he is accquainted to them it will be easy for him to talk to them and besides special exam has nothing to do with not having friendships outside the class
Nishino was thinking about how cool she is .....she practically made sakayanagi think ...feeling proud of this accomplishment she decided to never underestimate herself
Sakayanagi -"Let me ask you this question then .......what are your feelings towards what ayanokoji-kun said about everyone being his tools earlier, don't you feel scared"
Nishino -"Huh......what I feel ......don't know......I mean it's not like he said anything, it was just his thoughts which one would never learn about if not something like this supernatural thing going on and besides we all saw how he went out of his way and even wasted his points just because he wanted to save sudo and his class mates in mid terms and sudo's case helping him not losing his basketball club position and then he also helped that idol girl .......
I mean there was nothing he got out of these things he did ......helping the class in special exams and not asking for any credit ....I mean anything he has done till now, I don't see anything he got out of them except the thing about her sensei's threat........so I will stay neutral I mean despite his thought's he don't seem bad person at all, he just did what was supposed to be done and besides..... if I can make him view us as his friends then maybe I will get his favors......tee-hee"
(Okay chad akibro has now found a new partner chad nishino)
All the students who forgot about everything that happened before island exam were now thinking about the things he did before chabashira's threat .......certainly there wasn't anything he got from those things, there was nothing in it for him and nor did he got any credit for it either
(Author isn't giving them break ..i mean interval so their thoughts are jumbled mess that's why they totally forgot about the video's they saw before legendary quote)
Hiyori's grip on her book increased she really forgot about the events that happened before it all started ...after the island video she really forgot about sudo's case and midterms help he did without any reason for him to do so ....her trust in her book buddy increased even more, the small threads which were starting to get loose in her heart became strong like before
Ichinose was ashamed of having doubts about ayanokoji, he helped her and didn't even asked anything in return from her, that should have been more of a reason for her to believe him, making her resolve to not make any decision until she sees all the video's she clenched her fists
Keisei was contemplating himself for being stupid ........
Airi was crying thinking about how she started to fear him even though he never said or did anything wrong to her and he even helped her without any reason for him to do so, the self guilt started to eat her away
Haruka , after watching her own group fall when that video was shown, how keisei left the group, how airi was afraid of the person she loved moments ago, and then how kiyotaka left the class, she was feeling ashamed that even though they were supposed to be his friends they weren't with him when they should be sticking together with each other ......and her emotions were all increased a lot more because of the nostalgic feeling she was having to see a new group of loners which is about to be formed
Akito looked at ayanokoji group members and thought 'why are you guys so fixated to make things complicated just stand up and tell them that kiyo is part of our group and tell that nishino girl to not form a group but to join ours, keisei say it already man you are the only one who left the group officially.......that girl, is she trying to take my chad title away from me .....no I am supposed to be a chad making things serious isn't my character ....so the question shouldn't be whether she is trying to take my title away but... are we a good match......' he sighed thinking when keisei and other members of group will gather there courage to talk to kiyotaka again
Class D students were looking in shame downwards
Sakayanagi -"very well....have fun in your new group ayanokoji-kun and masumi-san"
kamuro spitting the drink she was having - "Pfttttt, what the hell, why would I join!"
Sakayangi -"the group is for loners ...and you are one too, so you fit the bill of being a loner who can join their group and besides I need someone to keep an eye on ayanokoji-kun ....and don't get any wrong ideas when you are with him masumi-san" she said last part a little coldly
Kamuro was just baffled at all this
Hashimoto -"you got a group of friends kamuro , good for you" as he said kamuro kicked him
Nishino -"So then the group is formed ....what should we call it ....hmm...well since ayanokoji-kun is the centre of the group we will call it kiyotaka group "
And thus another loner group was formed on this day known as kiyotaka group
Ayanokoji -"I am glad that they made me part of their group but......seriously will they really not even ask me about my opinions" he thought
Kei -"Wow, kiyotaka now has some more friends I am happy for you kiyotaka"
Matsushita -"seriously, will no one say anything about how every last member in this group is a girl except for ayanokoji .....rather than 'kiyotaka group' the name should be 'Ayanokoji's harem' that sounds more suitable name"
So, Ibuki came here hoping the rules had changed since yesterday. I wondered if she really did like fortune-telling that much, and if so, which part.
"I'm going to ask you something directly. Ibuki, do you believe in fortune-telling?" I asked.
Kanzaki -"don't you believe in it ayanokoji-kun"
Apparently kanzaki believe in fortune-telling
"Are you saying I shouldn't?"
"No. But it's generally not something people start to believe in all of a sudden, right?"
Shibita-"Well that's true I wouldn't believe in it all of a sudden but it happened many times with me that there words were so true, so I believe it I guess"
Mako-chan -"I also believe in it"
Not everyone understood that fortune-telling was the mere application of techniques such as cold reading. Many genuinely believed in divination's mysterious power.
Kanzaki -"Wait, really does that....mean I was just fooled all that time back then"
Chihiro -"But cold reading ....how does it work, it shouldn't be possible"
Sakayanagi -"Fufufu, I used cold reading to break ichinose-san don't you remember, that's how cold reading works , I have showed you a real practical scenerio haven't I"
All Class C members looked downwards and were sad remembering about that time,and Ichinose was thinking how she completely lost to sakayanagi back then, if not for ayanokoji she might even have decided to drop out
"I suppose a lot of people start out thinking that way. But if you can't move past that,fortune-telling's probably not for you," Ibuki said.
Random girl -"Yeah tell him ibuki-san, fortune telling isn't about cold reading it's about belief belief I say!!"
(Author don't know what this belief is supposed to mean, heck he never had this fortune telling thing happening in his life even once but well, he gotta write something to increase the chapter's length ......)
Another random girl -"Yeah don't you look like fortune telling isn't real, it's real and there are things like supernatural stuff ayanokoji-kun"
Another student- "Ayanokoji-kun I guess you don't believe in these things huh"
"So, you're saying that nonbelievers aren't qualified to have their fortunes read?"
"No, that's not it. Let me put it this way. It's not like I believe in fortune-telling unconditionally. However, people who are overly skeptical from the very start won't get anything out of it. People who make fun of fortune-telling often lead lives riddled with contradictions themselves.They'll say they don't believe in kami or in Buddha, for instance—but when they're in trouble, they call on a higher power for help, don't they?"
Nishino -"woah, that sure is a good argument you put forward mio-san"
Ibuki -"what the heck!!why are you calling me by my first name"
Nishino -"Awww, come on mio-san we are in the same group so we should call each other by first name, right masumi-san, hiyori-san,kiyotaka-kun ?"
Kamuro -"What the .....why did I ended up in this group"she said contemplating the day she shoplifted
Hiyori -"Hmm....ok" she said
Kiyotaka -"Call me however it pleases you" he said with his monotonous voice
Sakayanagi -"Well that indeed is quite a good argument, but for a loner aren't you quite talkative with ayanokoji-kun Ibuki-san, and ayanokoji-kun ...no kiyotaka-kun call me by my first name too"
Ayanokoji not understanding what sakayanagi wanted but still complied and nodded his head
Ryuuen -"You are surprisingly more talkative with him ibuki, aww....got beaten by your own crush that day, must be heart breaking kukukuku"
Soon after saying that ibuki's leg was seen in the empty air, that spot was the place where ryuuen's head was just a moment ago, grabbing her leg ryuuen pushed her leg down and started laughing again and ibuki just clicked her tongue regaining her posture sitting back on her seat
Some students were confused about what ryuuen said but no one asked, they just shrugged it off for now
That was a good argument. Gods didn't exist, and neither did things like ghosts. Yet many who made caustic statements like "God doesn't exist" would still visit shrines to bring in good fortune for the New Year. They'd pray for freedom from disease, success in business, or fulfillment in love. They'd clasp their hands and say, "Please, Kami-sama, listen to my prayers." What you believed in and what you wished for were infinitely different, and no one could deny that.
That said, fortune-telling wasn't the same as the existence of a higher power. Fortune-tellers were just people, like you or me. Really, I couldn't help but be skeptical.
Random girl -"Take him to the fortune teller already ibuki-san, show him how real fortune telling is, and remove his doubts"
Professor -"I see, I see now hahahhaha"
Kanzaki -"what is it you see professor" he said, finally students have realized that he is a league above them in this genre
Everyone was looking at professor wondering what event it might be that he will spoil for them now
Professor -"Kid, with the 100's and 1000's of anime and light novels I have seen and read I can tell where this is going"
Shibita -"Enlighten this poor kid with your vast knowledge professor"
Professor -"Very well I shall enlighten you, we will see a little glimpse of ayanokoji-dono's past"
Everyone was stunned no one uttered a word ...thoughts like ayanokoji's past....what could it be...he himself said that there were darker things in this world than karuizawa's past ...they felt shivers thinking what might it be
Professor -"Don't worry kids as I said we will only see a confirmation about ayanokoji-dono's past is dark nothing more than that .....that's when he will start believing a little in fortune-teller"
Ibuki's eyes widened, she remembered about what fortune teller said that time, she didn't took it seriously, but right now she can tell that fortune teller wasn't joking but was serious that time
Ryuuen looked at ibuki's serious and grim expression and confirmed about what professor said is really credible information
"Do you understand?" Ibuki asked.
"Yeah."
I still had lingering doubts, but I got the gist. I decided to make a suggestion.
"The fortune-teller only offers readings to pairs, but they're not only reading for romance, right?" I asked.
"Yes, obviously."
"In that case, why don't we go together? We're both genuinely interested in fortune-telling. If we're not in a relationship that might have future complications, I don't think we have anything to worry about."
Random student -"As expected professor was really right about this, they are going to go together huh"
Another student -"but you know it doesn't have the feeling of excitement like it should have"
Another student- "rather than calling him professor I prefer to call him 'Spoiler-kun' I guess"
Other students also nodded there heads in agreement to this new name
I honestly felt absolutely nothing for Ibuki. My emotions were a flat line, neither good nor bad. It was like dealing with a first-time customer in a store.
Ryuuen -"Aww...your crush seem to have flat line emotions for you... completely flat"
Another kick in empty space was found
Ibuki -"I don't like him at all !"
Ishizaki -"don't worry ibuki, I understand please...please stop these kicks you will break my leg"
Ibuki was venting her frustration on ishizaki by kicking him again and again
"Well, I don't mind. I would like to have my fortune read, after all. Are you okay with this?" she asked.
Another random student -"yeah are you really okay with this , I mean where's horikita-san"
Ayanokoji -"she refused to come"
Another one -"Hey horikita-san you should have gone"
Horiktia- "weather I go or not doesn't change the fact that ayanokoji-kun got his fortune read so isn't it fine"
Sakayanagi -"Kiyotaka-kun we will go together next time when this happens, am I clear" she said as if any other answer isn't allowed
Ayanokoji just nodded his head
Kei -"Ahhh Mouuu, aren't we supposed to go there that's for couple right kiyotaka how can you agree to this so easily, gonna have a long talk once we go back" she thought
"Even if Horikita were here, she's only a friend."
"That's not what I meant. Some students still hold a bit of a grudge toward me because of what happened on the island."
kanzaki -"Ahh right you were a spy, so it makes sense that students wouldn't like you and watching ayanokoji with you they might resent him too"
Shibita -"Is it just me or does it look like ibuki-san is looking out for ayanokoji-kun"
Some students were looking at ibuki saying her go girl get him
Ibuki- "JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTHS YOU BASTARDS I DON'T LIKE HIM"
Ryuuen -"kukukuukuhahha, this is fun ibuki, remembering how things went down on the rooftop it's fun"
Ibuki just clicked her tongue
Sakayanagi whispered into kamuro's ear -"Masumi-san keep an eye on ibuki-san whenever your group meets and give me all details"
kamuro -"Why did I shoplift ,why did I shoplift ......why the hell did I shoplift" she kept thinking
Ibuki was looking out for me, in a way. She was worried that, if my classmates saw us together, they might resent me.
"I don't think you really need to worry about that."
Ibuki craned her neck like she was puzzled. "I don't understand."
"If everyone at this school got along, then yes, what you did would be considered a massive moral violation. However, the school believes that ability is everything. Besides, the classes were competing against one another. Spying and sabotage were natural tactics to employ under the circumstances. Am I wrong?"
Kanzaki -"See ichinose spying and sabotaging are natural tactics so we should do same even ayanokoji agrees, it has nothing with hurting your friends"
Shibita -"Well, every class has there way of tackling exam kanzaki don't sweat much about it, we just happen to be the ones who rely on friendship power don't force your ideas on ichinose-san"
"But a lot of people operate based on feelings, rather than logic, and they won't be convinced of that. Not everyone's quite as mentally flexible."
Katsuragi -"Yeah that's true I mean if we are enemies then we should be always on our guard against other classes but after what ayanokoji said I think I shouldn't be too much uptight after all enjoying student life is also important, I am learning a little more about my own shortcomings with these videos"
"I don't think people like that would be admitted to this school in the first place."
Ibuki crossed her arms and looked deep in thought for a moment.
"You're surprisingly shameless, aren't you?"
Nishino -"That's not good mio-san, you shouldn't say that to your friends"
Ibuki -"I am not his friend!"
Nishino -"Awwww, it's good to act tsun-tsun but if you keep it up you won't get any progress, and look just how comfortably you are talking to him"
Hashimoto/ Ishizaki -"Hime, I feel something odd, do you know what's this? / Ryuuen-san I don't know there's just something I don't get here"
All the students were feeling something odd
Sakayanagi/Ryuuen -"Fufufufuhahaha, can't you see there/ kukukukuhahahha, look there you idiot"
As students looked in the direction sakayanagi and ryuuen pointed at they become aware
Hashimoto -"Ahhh.....this explains why things are so peaceful, no wonder I was feeling a little odd"
ishizaki -"hooo....so that's why I have been feeling a little odd , those defects haven't said anything so it's too quiet"
Kamuro -"really who knew them not speaking anything will make the atmosphere somewhat empty"
Hashimoto -"hahhaahaha, yeah I mean I liked how they throw tantrum and starting shouting, them not saying anything feels odd ahhaha"
Another student -"ahhaha, right, they are so silent hahahaha, not saying anything,hahaha it's wierd"
Random another student - "hey, ahhaha, defects say something man, it feels so empty when you guys aren't throwing tantrum and shouting out your lungs ahahhaa, show your defectiveness man I want to see more hhaha"
All other classes started laughing even class C was laughing though they were laughing by covering their mouths so that they won't hurt them much
Shibita -"It's strangely funny for some reason don't know why but I just can't stop laughing haha"
Mako-chan -"hahahha, don't laugh shibit. a....haha...that's not haha good "
Ichinose- "guys please don't laugh" she said while she herself was founding this strangely funny but she controlled herself
Defects weren't saying anything they atleast realizes saying anything will only make them more pathetic so they just kept looking down, they were learning how much of a difference ayanokoji's presence made for them
Horikita has already started to act like she don't care about them anymore she isn't even looking in their direction
Kei -"Haa....so this is what happens when kiyotaka isn't in our class, I mean this would have happened in the starting of our year if not for kiyotaka's actions, our class reputation increased back then but now....kiyotaka's leaving the class the reputation has gone back to what it was during first month of our school year ...no it's even more depleted .....kiyotaka can destroy others just by moving his class damn by boyfriend is too op" she thought
Matsushita -"Looks like we are laughing stock for other classes again like the first month but unlike that time our reputation won't increase this time" she thought
(author is also having trouble writing stuff because now he can't make stupid comments never thought making them suffer will make it so hard for me to write I guess this is what karma is like)
"All I am is an unremarkable student. I have no interest in either trying to crawl my way up the ladder or being kicked off it. If working with a student like Horikita lets me coast by, then I'm lucky."
All the students -"Liar, a big fat lie"
"That's not uncommon, though. Every student in this school has their eye on the special privileges that come with graduation. But no one foresaw that the school would make us compete like this, so I'm sure most students are bewildered."
Komiya -"Yeah I didn't expect it at all"
Kinoshita -"Neither did I, who would have thought school will put us under such conditions to compete with other classes"
Katsuragi -"I was also surprised with how things turned out"
Hashimoto -"Oh man, I am missing those defects ...I wonder what kind of crap they would have been saying if not for ayanokoji's class change..... damn I am missing it"
Machida -"Right, I mean it's really funny to see what kind of nonsense they speak hahaha, why don't you say something shouldn't you be like 'HUH NO KIDDING hahahah' lol I can't even copy them properly"
Apparently, Class C students weren't really that different from Class D. That probably meant that Ibuki, who'd caught Ryuuen's eye early on, must be formidable. In fact, after her identity as the spy was discovered, Ibuki was at Ryuuen's side on several occasions. She said that she was only helping him to make up for her failure, but it seemed like he trusted her, at least to some degree.
Ibuki -"You trust me huh"
Ryuuen -"Don't by his crap, I only trust myself"
Ibuki -"nah if it's him who said it then that means you trust me, but you refuse to say it directly aww....ryuuen so cute acting all tsun-tsun"
Ryuuen -"Shut the crap already"
Ibuki and I both got in line. The clerk I'd run into the other day came by once again to confirm that we were a pair, then handed us tickets. There were eight couples ahead of us.
"Looks like we'll be waiting for a while," I sighed.
If only one fortune-teller was available, Ibuki and I would have to wait longer than an hour, even if they managed the time efficiently. How would the two of us endure that? I probably couldn't carry on a conversation for that long
Sakayanagi -"Don't worry Kiyotaka-kun, I will increase your communications skill by talking with you all day and night, you will learn how to have long term conversations" smug loli under the name of training she is planning to make her bond even stronger
Ayanokoji -"I am grateful to you for helping me but don't you think it's too much all day and night I mean, will you be able to handle it"
(what the hell did you think? it's obviously about having conversation)
Sakayanagi -"Don't worry I will be able to handle it all day night without much problem"
(I repeat it's about talking continuously nothing more than that)
Kei -"why does the wordings sounds so wrong in so many ways"she thought
"We're only together to have our fortunes read, so we don't really need to make pointless chit-chat, right?" Ibuki asked me.
Nishino -"wow, mio-san you are compatible with him aren't you, go for it girl I am rooting for hiyori"
Ibuki- "WHAT THE FUCK!"
hiyori became all red hearing nishino's words
Hiyori -"than..thank you but I will do most of the work myself I am not sakura-san after all"
(those who ship sakura .....you need a check up so visit a hospital, she ain't gonna be even in my polygam*cough*cough*)
Nishino -"Thank you hiyori-san and what happened to you mio-san you don't have a crush, do you, so what's the problem, let's help hiyori-san"
Ibuki -"th...that's..."
Ryuuen -"Well played nishino, now what's your answer ibuki"
Ibuki -"DIE!! YOU ALL BASTARDS"
Ryuuen started laughing and nishino was giggling watching this tomboy tsun-tsun actions, Ibuki was looking in another direction with pout on her face
"I guess you have a point," I answered.
She'd picked up on what I was thinking. Good. I'd been saved a lot of hassle
"Next, please."
It was the middle of the afternoon when I heard that small voice come out of the temporary tent.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
In the end, fortune-telling for each pair took approximately fifteen minutes, which forced Ibuki and me to stand in line for even longer than anticipated. Just as I started to wonder if I even cared about fortune-telling anymore, I passed through a curtain and entered the room where the fortuneteller waited.
Hashimoto -"damn king you keep calculating everything in a way it's kind of cool and too crazy shit to be able to do it all the time , are you really human, I should think of some other name , king title isn't worthy for you"
(Because of the lack of defects no more dialogues came in author's mind damn it i can't write like this, I know this chapter is shit but still I just can't come up with anything so bear with it)
When I entered, I found a chamber that looked like something out of a television show. It was dark inside, probably around 30 lux. The fortuneteller appeared to be an elderly woman, but a hood obscured her face, so I couldn't make out her expression. She sat with a thick book, the contents of which I couldn't guess, and some kind of crystal ball. It looked like one of those balls you chuck around in the hammer throw in track and field.
Random student -"It's excellent atmoshpere, and this looks so fantasy like too"
Another random student -"Yeah, I want to go there too but well I am single"
Random student -"Yeah man I understand your pain"
This was excellent atmosphere. The crystal ball immediately began to glow, as if it would reflect my and Ibuki's futures. There were two backless seats in front of the fortuneteller. When we sat down, the fortune-teller chuckled lightly and moved her right hand.
"First...you must pay," she commanded.
Another student -"Damn! She is directly going for the money at least first do the job"
She pulled out a small card reader from under the table and placed it before us. Such a product of modern civilization felt out of place, especially in contrast to the scene around me. Not that I expected the reading to be free, of course.
"What kind of fortune are you going to read?" asked Ibuki, presenting her student ID card.
"It can be about your academics, career, love life, or anything you like," the fortune-teller answered with an unsettling grin. The expression lent itself nicely to the atmosphere, but she seemed less like a fortune-teller, and more like a witch.
Random Student -"Ptffff, haha witch that's right, that's how I also felt about her"
Fortune-teller -"My my aren't you being too rude"
Students spit the drinks they were having
Hashimoto -"That voice it seems to be same as her's"
Kirito -"She isn't here it's just prerecorded message she wanted to say to ayanokoji's thought don't ask how that happened author has already dealing with what to write problems so we will call it plot armor"
No one understood anything but they decided to shrug the whole thing off little did they know this little moment helped the author to write some crap
The list of prices she showed us seemed oddly mismatched. They were separated into several categories. The "Basic Plan" package seemed to include the services the fortune-teller had already mentioned. There were several packages, one of which seemed to be related to tenchuusatsu . There were even options that let you see the end of your life. Of course, since this was a couples' activity, many options were related to romance.
I wondered what a couple would do if the fortune-teller divined that they had poor romantic compatibility. Regardless, every option was rather expensive. We'd be spending well over 5,000 points.
"It's a lot of money," I sighed.
Machida -"but now you will have more money since you aren't in Class D next month you will have 100,000 points"
Random class A student -"Yeah now you can have things however you want ayanokoji-kun enjoy your stay in our class till graduation don't change classes ever"
Hashimoto -"Yeah king, stay here you don't have to do anything princess will take care of class problems just sit peacefully and enjoy your time don't ever think of changing classes"
Sakayanagi -"fufufu, I hope you can enjoy your time till graduation in this school kiyotaka-kun"
For a Class D student like me, who struggled with points daily, this was a tough pill to swallow. Even so, it probably would've been pointless to go home without finding out more about tenchuusatsu . I could just listen to Ibuki's fortune and head back, but then I wouldn't know how reliable the fortune-teller was.
Just in case, I checked my private points balance on my phone. I had roughly 6,000 points remaining: barely enough.
"I'll do the Basic Plan," said Ibuki.
Despite her unexpected interest in fortune-telling, she didn't seem to want a detailed fortune.
"And you?" asked the fortune-teller.
"I'll take the same," I replied.
Kamuro -"and with this you finally become broken with barely any points in your pocket at all"
Random student -"Hey, this is so peaceful watching this all finally why is it so....oh yeah defects aren't saying anything that's why hahahaha"
Class D was looking downwards and were feeling too much humiliated
Keisei -"I don't like it at all, how other students are looking at us , it just doesn't feel good at all, it's so frustrating, it's so annoying , I don't like it at all, is this how kiyotaka felt when we were shouting at him ........" he muttered under his breath with some tears falling his eyes
It felt as though I was placing an order at a restaurant. I presented my student ID card, and the card reader beeped, indicating that it had deducted points.
"Very well, let's start with the young lady. What's your name?"
"Ibuki. Ibuki Mio," she answered flatly.
"When I tell fortunes, I see the face, the hand, and then the heart of the person I'm reading. I may see something that you won't like. Are you prepared for that?" asked the fortune-teller.
Sakayanagi -"fufufu, heart of the person, I wonder how she looked at you kiyotaka-kun"
Ayanokoji-"you will know that soon enough"
"Do whatever you want," Ibuki replied.
I saw a bit of the fortune-teller's wrinkled skin under her hood, along with the sharp gleam in her eye. She instructed Ibuki to extend both hands, then revealed her fortune.
"First, a palm reading. You have a long lifeline. You have a long, long life to look forward to. I cannot see you suffering any major illness so far," the fortune-teller began.
Kanzaki -"hmm whenever I have my fortune teller saying things I always have been told these things and nothing bad, Looks like ibuki is also lucky as me"
Shibita -"that's just a typical start kanzaki there's nothing special about it"
Kanzaki -"really I don't think so"
The line between students who believe in this stuff and who don't started to become clear
A typical start. I couldn't imagine that a person could divine such things just by looking at the lines on someone's palm. Maybe the fortuneteller based her readings off personal experiences?
If it were me, I'd simply base my answer on the customer's apparent health. I'd come to a conclusion based on their complexion, build, and so on.
But the fortune-teller continued her reading at length, carefully providing Ibuki with predictions about academics, financial success, love, and so on. The predictions sounded ordinary and innocuous to me, but Ibuki listened with seeming satisfaction. The fortune-teller didn't have anything particularly negative to say. Most of her predictions were of a bright future.
Ryuuen -"Looks like you have a bright future but she didn't saw your ass getting beaten up did she kukuku"
Ibuki -"shut the hell up"
She occasionally issued warnings, but they didn't seem to pose a significant threat.
"Thank you very much," said Ibuki. She bowed her head gratefully.
It now seemed to be my turn, a chance for me to understand this fortune-telling business.
Students became more attentive and stopped eating, even teachers became more attentive
The fortune-teller followed the same process she'd used with Ibuki, and the answers I received were largely indistinguishable from Ibuki's.
Things seemed fundamentally good, but the fortune-teller said that there would be a future time when I would need to be careful to avoid disaster.
Sakayanagi -"huh, that sounds so real doesn't it kiyotaka-kun" she said referring to the matters of tsukashiro
Horikita remembered about hosen's fight which broke out not long ago and became more attentive in listening
"I see... It seems that you had a harsh childhood," she continued.
All the students gasped, what childhood did he have that he don't even have any emotions or any expression on his face what could it be that turned his thinking like that and what could it be that made him apathetic
A rather broad statement. Most people would claim to have gone through one or two harsh experiences during their youth, especially boys. I wanted her to give me more concrete answers.
Shibita -"by saying that you want more concrete answers are you trying to say that you want to see how much she really can see"
Kanzaki -"but that would also mean that fortune-teller is right"
Ichinose became worried about what he might be suffering from, she wants to help him no....she wants to support him and build him back like he did with her
More importantly, I found it mysterious that a fortune-teller, who should have been divining the future, was instead talking about the past.
Ibuki sat without once interrupting, or even yawning, and listened intently. Perhaps this was what fortune-telling was supposed to be like. Or perhaps this was a necessary ritual? Maybe the fortune-teller needed to visit the past first.
Humans were creatures of convenience. Once people got the idea into their heads that they'd been promised "good luck," they freely interpreted the next thing that went their way as a sign of their fortune coming true.
Ryuuen -"that's right, humans are like that, no one would like have a bad fortune and things like that, if you tell them they will have bad luck they will deny it and refuse to believe it but if you say they have good luck they will go as far as to imagine that they can even win a lottery today"
Ah, so my fortune was right, they would think. However, the reality was that everyone had "good luck" at some point, because life delivered both happiness and unhappiness in great and small amounts.
Kanzaki -"your thoughts are like....how should I say it"
Shibita -" your thoughts are always as if you are watching everything from far away , from third person's perspective, there's never individual thoughts, it's like all the things happening around you doesn't affect you like there's never any emotions in them only analytical reports and words and it was same when you were threatening karuizawa-san"
"This is..." The fortune-teller stopped moving her hands. "You're the holder of the fate tenchuusatsu !" she exclaimed.
Some students - "Wha-?Seriously?"
"Wha—? Seriously?" Ibuki balked.
Even though it was my fortune, I was the least surprised person there.
Tenchuusatsu wasn't a word I'd even been aware of until the day before. The fortune-teller and Ibuki seemed way more shocked by this revelation.
Random student -"are you kidding me, it means you have lived your life in constant misfortune since you were born"
Sakayanagi flinched listening to this since it really was the truth he has been in that facility since he was born
All the students were worried about what kind of life he has lived till now
"To put it simply, you've lived a life of constant misfortune since you were born," Ibuki explained.
"This is incredible!" the fortune-teller exclaimed.
It might have been pure coincidence, but that claim was accurate. Still vague, though.
Some students were shaking because just now he said that it is the truth, the details are indeed vague but it was proof he has seen more darker things then anyone, and besides it was the first time that he in his thoughts has accepted that he really has more harsh childhood than other's
kei -"back then I asked him what happened to him but he declined I wonder if I will learn about it now, when I will I am going to help him no matter what" she thought to herself
Besides, from a cynical viewpoint, more than a few people would call themselves constantly unlucky. I supposed it was risky for the fortune-teller to make an unhappy prediction, though.
Hashimoto -"huh even though just now a part of your past was being talked you aren't even thinking about it, giving us no clue on what might have happened , you have already started to look at her answers like you are analysing it like always"
"So, is this fate tenchuusatsu going to apply to me from here on out?" I asked.
"The little girl wasn't quite right when she said that the tenchuusatsu meant you lived a life of misfortune," the fortune-teller replied.
"Little girl?" Ibuki repeated, annoyed.
"Fate tenchuusatsu is certainly rare. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that your entire life will be marked by misfortune. It's true that the overall outlook is bad. There are negatives: you won't have the blessing of your parents, or your family. However, the rest is up to you, individually. You alone decide what you can do and can't do," the fortune-teller explained.
She had a grim expression on her face, but I could see compassion in her eyes
Sakayanagi was stunned to see the accuracy of this fortune teller
Ichinose -"ayanokoji-kun.... was it true about what she ...said"
Ayanokoji -"maybe or maybe not you can see my thoughts right, figure yourself ichinose"
"You don't need to be pessimistic, and you don't need to act like you're starring in a comedy, either," she continued.
I'd heard some interesting things today, but in the end, it was just fortune-telling. I wasn't on the edge of my seat with anticipation. When I tried to get up, though, the fortune-teller stopped me.
"I have one more piece of advice for you. Go straight home, without taking any detours. If you stray, you might be stuck for quite a long time. Even if you do get stuck, don't panic. If you stay calm and work together,you should be able to overcome it," she told me.
What prophetic words.
Katsuragi -"did you take a detour ayanokoji"
ayanokoji-"yeah we did"
Katsuragi -"she is amazing then, isn't she"
Ryuuen -"huh, what are you talking about katsuragi"
Katsuragi -"that day ayanokoji called me and told me that he was stuck in elevator with ibuki, there was some kind of malfunction which occurred that time and ended up stuck there for an about an hour but....if they took a detour than what fortune teller said was...."
Ryuuen -"Heee, now isn't that something interesting, sakagami sensei when will that fortune teller come again I wanna meet her and ask her about my fortune"
Sakagami -"she won't be coming this time and besides you will be spending your vacation on the cruise ship this year"
Sakayanagi and ryuuen -"Now that's a pity"
Nishino -"WOAH! MIO-SAN AND KIYOTAKA-KUN IN THE SAME ELEVATOR ALONE, did you do something lewd" she said last part with a smug smile not near to smug loli but still good enough
Ibuki -"NO! WHY THE HELL DID YOU EVEN THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED"
Mako-chan -"nothing happened honami keep up the work girl get him snatch him do whatever needs to be done"
Sakayanagi -"fufu, I didn't know you were accquianted with katsuragi-kun back then"
Ayanokoji -"this happened and that happened and we got accqauinted coincidentally"
"So, how was your first fortune-telling experience?" Ibuki asked.
"How was yours?"
"I was mostly satisfied, I think. That fortune-teller is actually pretty famous. People say that she's highly accurate."
"I see. It seems like a simple profession, but I guess it's actually difficult," I replied.
Fortune-telling was partly based on templates. A fortune-teller gave you hastily thrown together generalizations, but also bits of truth, calculated to excite the listener. They didn't just rely on luck, but also on long practice and experience.
"I'm not going to dismiss fortune-telling from now on," I added.
Professor -"See didn't I tell ya, he will start to believe in it a little" he said with a smug face
"Ah, I see."
Ibuki's reply was short, disinterested. We headed toward the elevator.
"Geh. It's really crowded again," I grumbled.
If I continued onwards, I faced hell. If I turned back, I faced hell. Students crowded the elevator area.
"Sorry, but I think I'm going to find another way home. I'll take a detour," I told Ibuki.
"Yeah, me too."
As we made our way to the other elevator, I remembered what the fortune-teller had said.
"That reminds me, earlier..."
"The fortune-teller said not to take any detours," Ibuki said.
My eyes met Ibuki's for an instant. Whether it was coincidence, or an inevitability, we decided to take the detour.
Hashimoto -"And you got stuck in elevator for an hour huh, pretty accurate fortune teller we got there"
Ryuuen -"Huh so you both were interested to see it, so how was the experience ibuki getting stuck with your beloved crush"
Ibuki -"Say it one more time and I will kill you, you bastard" she was reaching her limit and author too was tired
kirito -"Now let's see how ayanokoji and katsuragi became friends"
(I ain't gonna write elevator scene I have got problems thinking about dialogues)
Author's note
I know chapter wasn't that great but I have nothing to write since defects aren't saying anything now
So do you want the uncrazy non smol smug loli next chapter or the crazy smol smug loli?