COTE but I'm a Horikita SIMP?!

[A/N: this chapter was kind of a rush, so I am sorry if the quality doesn't match. Infact, I didn't particularly enjoy writing this that much. Well, enough of yapping, enjoy.]

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The classroom was steeped in a tense, suffocating silence. Pens lay idle on desks, exams forgotten. The students' minds were not on the papers in front of them—they were on Kushida.

The fate of one of the school's most beloved figures hung in the balance, and the uncertainty gnawed at their focus. She was the epitome of kindness, the angel of Class D. The idea that she could be involved in something so underhanded felt unthinkable to most. Yet here they were, waiting, hoping it wasn't true.

Yuto sat at his desk, his head resting lazily on his palm, humming a tune that grated on the nerves of anyone listening. His nonchalance only heightened the room's unease. Eyes darted to him—searching for answers, perhaps courage—but his expression remained maddeningly indifferent. If not for the exam setting, they might have swarmed him with questions, demands even, for an explanation.

Kei shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her hands clasped tightly over her chest. Her fingers trembled slightly as guilt twisted like a knife in her gut. She knew exactly what was happening, every step of it. The plan was playing out precisely as Yuto had envisioned, but that knowledge didn't make it any easier. She stole a glance at him, her lips pressing into a tight line before she quickly looked away.

Horikita's exam was long finished, but her pen lay untouched beside her paper. Her sharp eyes moved in a deliberate rhythm—Yuto, Kushida's empty chair, Ayanokoji. Again and again. Her gut churned with unease, and she found herself murmuring under her breath.

Could Ayanokoji have had a hand in this? Her instincts told her yes, even if she couldn't prove it. And if that were the case… Kushida didn't stand a chance.

But then her gaze settled on Yuto, and her throat constricted. That familiar lump returned, the one that always surfaced when she truly looked at him. This time, though, it was worse. Her face paled as if her body sensed the truth before her mind could fully process it.

Horikita was one of the few who had glimpsed a sliver of what Yuto truly was. She didn't know the full extent of his capabilities, but she knew enough to be terrified. Whatever was waiting for Kushida the moment Yuto raised his hand, it would be far more devastating than mere expulsion.

She snapped out of her reverie as footsteps could be heard coming from the door as Sae, Kushida and a staff member walked into the room. Kushida's face was grey as the staff member came up front.

"These..." the staff member announced, holding the chits up for all to see, "...were in Kushida-san's possession."

The murmurs began immediately. Horikita's eyes narrowed, Hirata's face twisted in disbelief, and Kei feigned shock perfectly.

Yuto, however, stood up. "Ah, Sae-chan-sensei," he said casually, stretching his arms as if bored, "before we finalize anything, shouldn't we consider why Kushida did this?"

All eyes turned to him, and the room fell silent. Kushida's lips quivered. "Kazuki-san, please… stop this…" she whispered, but her plea only made him grin wider.

"You see," Yuto continued, walking slowly toward the center of the room, "Kushida has always had a knack for playing innocent. But the truth is…" He leaned in close, his voice dropping low enough that everyone strained to hear. "…she despises all of you. She's been smiling in your faces while stabbing you in the back."

Everyone looked confused, while Kushida's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. Yuto clicked his tougnue. "Looks like no one is buying it." A malicious smile appeared on his face.

"Would you like me to elaborate, Kushida-san?" Yuto taunted. "Or should I let everyone know how much you enjoyed tearing people down in middle school?"

Kushida's eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat as dread overtook her. Her gaze flickered to Ayanokoji and Horikita, the only two people she believed knew her buried past. It had to be one of them.

Horikita's expression mirrored her shock, though a flicker of suspicion darkened her features. She glanced briefly at Ayanokoji, whose usually indifferent eyes momentarily widened before returning to their signature emptiness. His nonchalant demeanor was maddening; he closed his eyes, seemingly piecing something together.

The rest of the class, though unaware of the details, watched with morbid curiosity. Whispers hummed beneath the surface of their silence.

"Kazuki," Sae snapped, her voice sharp enough to pierce the tension. "This is an examination hall. Refrain from speaking unless you want to face consequences."

Yuto raised his hands in mock surrender. "Of course, Sae-chan-sensei. My apologies," he said smoothly, though his eyes remained locked on Kushida, a sly grin playing on his lips.

Sae turned her attention to Kushida. "Kushida, take your seat. We will discuss your punishment after the exam concludes." Her gaze then shifted to Yuto, narrowing with authority. "And you—I expect to speak with you later."

Kushida felt her legs wobble as she lowered herself mechanically into her chair. Her hands clutched the edges of the desk as if anchoring herself to reality.

"Wait."

The sudden interjection drew everyone's attention. Horikita had raised her hand, her voice calm but carrying an edge.

"Sensei, when you said punishment, do you mean that Kushida-san might not be expelled?"

Sae's sigh echoed across the room. "Horikita..." Her gaze darted briefly to Ike, a subtle message in her expression. "Expulsion is not taken lightly, and the school prioritizes fairness above all. The matter will be brought before the faculty and student council, where an appropriate decision will be made."

Yuto leaned back, his lips twitching into a hidden smirk. 'So that's how they'll spin it. If Kushida is expelled, Ike will go down too because of Paper Shuffle. that's the front of the case isn't it Sae-chan-sensei.'

he obviously didn't fall for it. The exam rules were the final. If Kushida got expelled because of chits. It's Ike's fault for not knowing that, hence, he also gets expelled.

'Kushida is important for Class-D if they ever want to reach Class-A. Clever, Sae-chan-sensei... but not clever enough.'

Kushida's breathing quickened as the weight of Sae's words settled. Her mind spiraled further into chaos, haunted by the thought of what the student council could uncover.

Yuto leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, his palm obscuring his mouth. His eyes glimmered with unspoken intent as he mouthed something to her.

Kushida froze, her blood running cold as the words etched themselves into her mind. "This isn't the end of it."

Her vision blurred with tears. The faint tremor in her hands turned into uncontrollable shivers as she clutched her head, her elbows propped on the desk. Each sob that escaped her lips was quieter than the last, but no less heart-wrenching.

As the exam hall clock ticked on, the looming specter of what awaited her became unbearable. Time passed, and though most of the class completed their papers, all eyes occasionally flickered to Kushida, who seemed like a shadow of herself.

Yuto glanced at the clock, a satisfied smile forming. Perfect timing.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, and almost instantly, Kushida found herself surrounded.

"Kushida-san, what's going on?"

"Kikyo, did Kazuki set you up? This must be a misunderstanding!"

"Kushida-san, what was he talking about? What did you do?"

Tears streamed down Kushida's face as she clutched her hands to her chest, her voice trembling. "Guys! I didn't do anything! Kazuki-san is framing me—I don't know why!" Her sobs broke into sniffles, her wide eyes seeking the sympathy of her classmates.

Across the room, Yuto groaned audibly. "Two-face," he muttered, shaking his head. "You're still playing the victim? How insufferable can you be? Just fuck off to your parents already."

Kushida froze, her tear-streaked face snapping toward him. "Kazuki-kun!" she wailed, her voice thick with desperation. "How could you say that?!"

Before anyone could react, Ike stormed forward, grabbing Yuto by the collar. "What the hell, Yuto?! Not only did you betray the class, but now you're trying to tear it apart! What's wrong with you?!"

Yuto met Ike's fiery glare with calm indifference, tilting his head slightly as if Ike's anger amused him. "Tear it apart?" he asked, his voice smooth but cold. "I'm trying to save it."

He pushed Ike's hands off him with ease and turned to face the class, his voice carrying an edge that silenced the murmurs. "You don't know what this two-faced parasite is capable of," he said, pointing a finger at Kushida. "In middle school, she ruined her entire class. Everyone's darkest secrets—spread like wildfire. Why? Because of her. If you think she won't do the same to us, then you're all retards."

Gasps rippled through the room, and the uncomfortable glances shifted toward Kushida.

"That's a lie!" Kushida screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her panic. "I've never done anything like that! You're making this up, Kazuki-kun!" She looked to her friends, her eyes pleading. "You believe me, don't you?"

But doubt was already creeping into their expressions. No, not doubt. 

Fear.

Its seemed only now that they realized the power Kushida held.

Yuto scratched the back of his head lazily, then pointed at her, his tone casual yet cutting. "Annoying," he said simply.

"Oi, Kazuki, stop it!" Ike shouted again.

"Kazuki-san, you're being horrible!" another classmate chimed in.

"This isn't like you!"

Amidst the mummers, a familiar voice rang out. "Kazuki-kun!"

The crowd parted slightly, revealing Hirata, his usually cheery self was replaced with someone showing visible desperation. He stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Do you have any proof of these accusations? If not, stop spreading baseless rumors! You're breaking this class apart!"

Hirata's words lit a fire in the room, and more voices joined the chorus.

"That's right, Yuto!"

"Apologize to Kushida-san!"

"You planted the chit, didn't you?!"

Yuto watched them impassively, his eyes flicking to the clock. He pulled his phone from his pocket, glancing at the time before striding to the whiteboard. Without warning, he slammed a duster against it, the sharp sound cutting through the noise like a knife.

The room fell silent.

Yuto grinned faintly, his movements deliberate as he snapped his fingers. At that exact moment, every phone in the room buzzed simultaneously.

A collective murmur of confusion spread as students fumbled for their devices. Screens lit up with a single but different message for everyone.