potato6

3

At 10:30 PM, I decided to go out and check—a risky venture given the

time.

Fortunately, due to the heavy rain, there was no sign of anyone in the

hallway.

I headed from the hallway to the emergency stairs and made my way to

Ichinose's room.

Then, I pressed the doorbell, trying to call out to Ichinose, who should've

been inside.

The sound of the doorbell echoed faintly from the other side of the door.

But no matter how long I waited, there was no response.

There was no way for her to be sure that the one visiting was me. However,

it seemed she was showing her intention not to meet anyone right now,

regardless of their identity.

I took out my phone from my pocket and pressed the call button.

The call tone started ringing, indicating that her phone hadn't been turned

off since it was last read.

Five times, six times—

Even after the call rang more than ten times, Ichinose did not answer the

phone.

I pressed the end call button and quietly knocked.

"It's me. The deadline for our promise is about to end, that's why I came

here."

I conveyed this with my own voice, not through the phone.

Even considering the heavy rain, speaking out like this was naturally a big

risk.

I was visiting when other girls could've spotted me. It wouldn't

immediately cause a commotion, but the one to find me would be obliged to

report the offender, and I would be held responsible.

Therefore, I wouldn't repeat myself indefinitely.

If Ichinose still wouldn't respond, I had no intention of pursuing it further.

I certainly wanted to know the answer, but I couldn't take that high of a

risk.

I would just have to accept it as Ichinose's answer.

The other side of the door remained silent.

"I'll wait just three more minutes. If there's no response, I'll leave, so don't

worry."

I quietly began counting down 180 seconds.

During that time, I looked back at the heavy rain.50 seconds, 40 seconds... the remaining time decreased.

When the final 30 seconds were just about to start, something changed.

My phone vibrated faintly. It was because I received a message.

['Why did you come?']

It was none other than Ichinose—the person on the other side of the door.

If sending a message was all she could manage, then I could just reply to

her on my phone.

['I told you. Today was the promised day.']

['It's already late at night. It's past curfew.']

After that message arrived, while I was replying, another message from

Ichinose came.

['I don't have the courage to go to your room right now, Ayanokōji-kun.

Sorry.']

['I understand that. That's why I came here.']

This reply was read immediately, but no more messages came back.

I continued to send another message

['I'll wait one more minute. If the door doesn't open by then, let's pretend

the promise never happened.']

This message was also properly read.

Now it was up to Ichinose to decide.

She could dislike or doubt me—if she chose to continue fighting through

the next year despite that, that was her choice to make.

She might even feel disgusted with the school and choose to leave

voluntarily.

Or, she could do something I couldn't predict. Naturally, Ichinose had the

option.

After getting an answer, it would be fine if she showed herself then.

Soon, the time limit was less than 10 seconds away.

I was about to change my mind and leave when my phone vibrated again.

['The door is unlocked, come in.']

That message was from Ichinose.

Unlocked? I read those words over and over. Something felt out of place.

Recently, I knew without having to look into things that Ichinose hadn't

been going out, and she was avoiding meeting with anyone.

Then, this door, the only connection between the inside and out, should

naturally be locked.

Had a classmate that visited Ichinose been invited in after I looked into

things?

Of course, all possibilities were possible, but... the probability seemed low.

Had she considered the possibility that I would be the one to visit her today

instead?It was hard to determine.

If this had been a phone call or face-to-face conversation, I could've fished

for the answers, but unfortunately, it was difficult to discern intentions through

impersonal messages.

The unexpected message surprised me a bit, but I decided to move forward.

I cautiously reached for the doorknob.

Indeed, the door was unlocked and opened smoothly.

However, no light awaited beyond the opened door; the room was

enveloped in silence and darkness.

"Ichinose, are you there?"

I muttered, but no voice returned.

I quietly closed the door I had opened.

The lights were off inside the room, making it nearly impossible to see

anything, and sound was similarly absent.

The only audible noise was a faint hum from the refrigerator's compressor.

"Ichinose?"

I called out again, but still no reply came back.

Since I couldn't just take off my shoes and enter, I decided to take my time.

As I couldn't grasp the situation any further, I quietly waited for my eyes to

adjust to the darkness.

As my eyes gradually adapted to the dark, I was able to spot Ichinose in the

corner of the room, hugging her knees with her face down.

"Even though curfew passed, you don't care?"

"That's my line as well. Since you invited me in, Ichinose, you also bear

some responsibility."

"...That's true."

I heard Ichinose's voice for the first time in a while.

She seemed more energetic than I had expected, and she didn't appear to be

in poor health.

"Ayanokōji-kun, you value this day more than I imagined."

Ichinose murmured, referencing how I had gone out of my way to risk

visiting.

"But that isn't for my sake—it's for your own… right, Ayanokōji-kun?"

Ichinose must've understood that much by now.

"Yes."

So I nodded without hesitation and continued speaking.

"I decided a year ago. Today is the day to enact the student Ichinose

Honami's kaishaku."

(TL Note: "Kaishaku (介錯人) is a term historically associated with ritual

suicide (seppuku), where a second person would deliver a final blow.")If someone heard this, they might angrily question what I meant by

kaishaku.

"Kaishaku... In which sense do you mean that?"

Ichinose muttered briefly, neither angry nor flustered.

Generally, when people heard 'kaishaku,' most would only imagine the

negative meaning. This was because they'd interpret it as delivering the final

blow to cause instant death during seppuku. However, kaishaku had another

meaning. It could mean the opposite—to attend to someone and take care of

them.

"That's what you'll soon come to understand."

"Is that so... "

"If it's okay with you, may I come in?"

"...Please do. Just make sure to lock the door."

It was unlikely that anyone would visit at this hour, but it was better to be

cautious.

Following her request, I locked the door and removed my shoes before

stepping inside. The room was dark, making it hard to see where I was stepping,

but it was neatly arranged and seemed free of any tripping hazards.

Despite the darkness, I stopped walking once I reached a position where I

could clearly see Ichinose's state.

"You might not want to see me—maybe you never want to see my face

again—however, I wanted to talk today. This might be the last chance we have to

talk at leisure."

"Cutting off all ties... we won't even be able to remain as friends. Is that

what this means, I wonder."

"I won't deny it. If we both decide that's best, it's necessary."

Ichinose could've dismissed me from the start, saying she didn't even want

to be friends.

If that was the worst-case scenario for Ichinose, it was because she

regretted her lack of judgment.

What I was about to tell her was nothing short of cruel.

"Is there anything you want to tell me first? If not, I'm ready to give my

answer."

If unnecessary chatter was unwelcome, it was best to get to the point.

"...Yes. Tell me."

Without turning her face, Ichinose gave an affirmation, perhaps prepared.

"The result of the end-of-year special exam was a crossroads of fate. If

your class lost, it would be nearly impossible to recover from the current

situation. You could say that it was a battle you absolutely couldn't lose to.

However, the result was Horikita's class's victory. In other words, the path to

Class A was cut off.""That's right. I think there are still many in the class who haven't given up,

but it's impossible... because I couldn't beat you, Ayanokōji-kun. Because of

that, I crushed everyone's dreams."

"That's right. The class was defeated because its leader, you, was weak.

The responsibility you hold is significant. But anyone can blame that part on

you. There would be no need for me to come here to enact the kaishaku if that

was all."

Ichinose didn't move. Whether she was prepared or not, she kept her head

down, looking at the ground.

"However, surprisingly, there's still a chance to put your class back on its

feet."

"That's a strange thing to say. Isn't the path to Class A cut off...?"

"Only as long as you remain the leader of the class, that is."

For the first time, Ichinose's shoulders jolted.

"…So… are you telling me to step down as the leader?"

"If you want to win for the sake of the class, then do it as soon as possible."

"I see… But if that's the case, it won't be long before it happens. I no

longer have the qualifications or confidence to lead the class..."

I could feel the strength being poured into the hands that clutched her

knees.

"I'm sorry, but that alone isn't enough. While stepping down as leader is a

given, beyond that, someone who can lead the class to victory needs to take that

empty role. Only then can your class regain the potential to be Class A."

"A leader who can guide us? Who are you thinking of...? Kanzaki-kun?"

"Nobody in particular. Currently, there's no one in your class capable of

making a comeback."

"If that's the case, it's an impossible tale from the start..."

"If there's no one in your class, then we should bring someone from

another class."

"…What do you mean...?"

"I will transfer to your class and become the new leader."

This was one of the strategies I had been developing.

Here, I confessed the strategy to Ichinose.

"Ayanokōji-kun, you...?"

"You should understand my abilities by now, whether for better or worse.

The 500-points gap with Horikita's class isn't an easy fight, but I can easily

overtake them within a year."

"After finally moving up to Class A, you would throw that away to come to

a lower class...?""It might be an idea that's hard to understand normally. But rest assured, if

this is achieved, I can graduate your current class from Class A, just as you

wish."

For the first time, Ichinose, who had continued hugging her knees, looked

up.

I thought she might've been crying, but it doesn't seem like it.

"Ah... I see. That's what it is..."

She seemed to have realized something, showing a deep understanding.

Then Ichinose slowly looked at me.

Perhaps in her eyes, I appeared as an executioner who had come to end her

life.

"The predetermined plan was for you to defeat me in the end-of-year

special exam, Ayanokōji-kun. If I had won, this proposal wouldn't have been

made—"

If Ichinose won, the class points would have remained nearly balanced.

In that case, there would be no need for me to transfer classes.

That view, that way of thinking, was half correct.

"I won't deny that it was one of the options. Still, if you had defeated me

and shown the strength that made me unnecessary, I would've welcomed that

too."

It meant that I had honestly intended to go with kaishaku's 'helping'

definition.

"I see... But that's not a bad deal for our class, right? If you fight in my

place and aim for Class A, Ayanokōji-kun, we should be happy about it."

"That's right. But you might've guessed, right?"

"Yes... There has to be a condition, correct?"

Just having Ichinose step down as leader and taking that position myself

wouldn't constitute 'kaishaku.'

"I'll transfer to your class and graduate from Class A, but I require that

you, Ichinose Honami, get expelled from this school."

That was the only requirement I sought.

If she agreed to this, the deal would be done.

"...My expulsion..."

Considering that condition, what would Ichinose think?

How would she act?

Since this morning, I had been intrigued by her answer.

We were at the crossroads of many strategies I had set up. Regardless of

where we would end up, I predicted the patterns of answers, but which path we'd

take was up to Ichinose herself to decide.

"Sorry. I don't have enough private points...""Don't worry. The transfer itself isn't difficult. We'll gather all the private

points you have, of course, and we'll gather from all your classmates as well. If

that's still not enough, we can borrow from the first-years. If we promise to

repay with interest, there will be students willing to lend. With the trust you

possess, it won't be difficult to gather the missing points when promising to

return it with interest. Even if we can't gather all 20 million, it isn't hard to come

up with how we'll acquire the remainder."

And with that, the simple class transfer would be completed.

Just 20 million private points guaranteed Class A.

"Even if this can be realized... what's your purpose in doing all this,

Ayanokōji-kun?"

"A certain graduate once told me to become a memorable student. At least,

each classes' leaders are now strongly aware of my presence. Not just the

leaders, but other class members are gradually becoming aware as well."

Whether that awareness was right or wrong didn't matter.

"Once this transfer is completed, it will definitely make me a memorable

student."

"...Right."

"Do you remember what I told you a year ago—to stay true to yourself?"

'During that year, you'll push forward with your classmates, as far as you

can go. There will be happy times and sad times along the way. And I think there

will be times when you feel crushed and disheartened. But even so, don't ever

stop.'

That message I conveyed a year ago—this is the true meaning.

"It was also to avoid damaging the class's value. By doing so, we could

maintain the initial 40 student count given by the school, so even if you leave,

someone else could enter the class, allowing us to start the third year with 40

students."

I was controlling and managing the initial state of the class with my own

hands.

"This is because I consider starting from the base to be ideal."

"If I stay, there will be 41 people... it would be distorted."

"Of course, that's not the only reason. Your existence is an obstacle for the

class. It's your character—you have a power that I can't control."

If Ichinose were to show resistance to me, those who would follow her

wouldn't just stop at one or two students.

This would hinder the normal operation of the class.

"I see... Amazing, Ayanokōji-kun. You really think of every possible

scenario..."

However, this divergence slightly differed from the future I originally

envisioned.Since Sakayanagi left, things didn't go as planned, resulting in me

correcting the course.

"If I voluntarily withdraw, the class points will drop even further. Can you

still win?"

"Normally, it would be tough to fight. Whether we can accumulate over

800 class points purely depends on the rewards offered by the school. But the

words you just said are key to the strategy. If we can force other class' students

to drop out through unofficial means, not only can we close the gap with the

points we receive, but we can also do so by taking points from others."

She couldn't get her friends to Class A with her own abilities.

If she took responsibility and voluntarily withdrew, she could make sure

her friends graduate from Class A.

Ichinose, feeling a great responsibility for the loss, had two possible

options.

This was indeed the last crossroad.

"If I really withdraw... will you take them to Class A?"

"I promise."

This was the truth.

I was negotiating with the intent of leading Ichinose's class to Class A.

"Then, I will—"

"But Ichinose, let me tell you something important first. I will definitely

lead your class to Class A, but I can't guarantee the graduation of all 39

classmates excluding me."

"Eh...?"

"Of course. We can't afford to carry any dead weight for the comeback. If I

feel a student is unnecessary, I will naturally cut them off. To make up for the

significant gap in class points, eliminating weaknesses is one of the top

priorities. If there's a chance to force someone out through special exams, I'll

use it without hesitation. Whether it's Amikura, Norihito, or someone close to

you, I won't make any distinctions. It's the same as what I did with Maezono in

Horikita's class."

In fact, I had already set a precedent with Maezono. I had used her and

forced her to withdraw.

Ichinose was experiencing firsthand a reality that didn't allow for

dreaming.

"However, it won't be 10 or 20 people withdrawing. At most, a few will

disappear."

The answer narrowed down to two choices.

One is to accept my current proposal, bring me into her class, and then

voluntarily withdraw.The other is to reject my proposal, continue as the class leader fueled by

hatred.

No, in reality, there was only one option left.

Ichinose Honami could not abandon her classmates.

It was a 99% chance—Ichinose would rise again as the class leader and

start fighting.

From there, I would have no choice but to forcibly arrange the battle

between the four classes.

However, it was unlikely that the balance among the four classes would be

correctly maintained.

That couldn't be helped.

But neither of those answers were what I wanted.

I was actually seeking a third answer.

I found myself hoping for a third answer, one that even I didn't have.

"That's cruel, isn't it…?"

"Indeed."

It was a futile wish.

Ichinose would soon stand up in anger and reach the conclusion to fight.

Even so… I still desired it.

It was something I had instilled in her a year ago, on the day I decided to

enact the kaishaku on Ichinose Honami—the seeds to controlling both the

positive and negative romantic emotions from within a human.

No, it wasn't limited to love.

Being helped and betrayed, receiving goodwill and hostility.

I had interacted with her with the purpose of mixing these contradictory

emotions.

In a short period, a multitude of positives and negatives tumultuously

stirred inside of Ichinose.

It had reached its peak.

Undoubtedly, Ichinose's goodwill had flipped due to my betrayal.

In psychological terms, this state was called ambivalence.

Ambivalence particularly amplified the influence of the less desirable

feelings.

When I was in the White Room, I learned of its existence during my

studies.

Therefore, it was highly likely that Ichinose, fueled by hatred, would

oppose me afterward.

I just wanted to closely observe what kind of changes she'd undergo as a

new experiment.

And Ichinose was indeed the perfect test subject for this.

Now, she harbored hatred for me that surpassed her feelings of affection.The deeper the love, the stronger the hatred would become.

Sometimes, this could lead to a psychological state significant enough to

cause neurosis, one that couldn't be taken lightly.

However, you couldn't call this a new experiment.

Increasing hatred and breaking the spirit—this had been done in past

experiments with results that were already known.

What I truly wanted to see was a different outcome.

The 1% unknown.

Is that too much to hope for?

"I... definitely don't want to hurt my friends."

"Then you have no choice but to keep fighting on your own."

"But, that surely won't get us to Class A."

What awaited was just a futile year.

"Then, will you choose to drop out and entrust it to me?"

"Whether I drop out or not, maybe that's the answer you're waiting for,

Ayanokōji-kun."

That's right.

I didn't deny anything.

"But… I feel like neither of those is the real answer."

Words I hadn't expected to hear so soon came out of her mouth.

I couldn't hide the strong stimulation flowing through my brain.

"Both are wrong? Then, what do you think is the right choice?"

"I don't want to lose any of my friends. I can't afford to lose them."

"That's just an ideal, and it's selfish."

"Yes, it's probably impossible with my abilities alone. But with you,

Ayanokōji-kun, it can be realized."

"You're not dropping out, yet you still want me to transfer to your class—is

that what you mean to say?"

When I asked, Ichinose smiled for the first time today, shaking her head

from side to side in denial.

Then, she articulated the path she had imagined: a path without a path.

She presented a method to achieve balance among the four classes,

conceived through her own thoughts.

She reached the 1% answer I had hoped for.

"So that's... that's the solution you've thought of."

"Could it be that I'm wrong?"

"...No."

I lost my words and couldn't immediately continue.

Ichinose's classmates admired her and aimed for Class A together with her.

It was the only possibility that didn't picture anyone missing upon

graduation.She had now grasped the elements she lacked as a leader.

If we were only talking about Ichinose's potential, she might've surpassed

Horikita and Ryūen.

If she was able to completely overcome her mental weakness and discard

her naivety, it was really uncertain how the next year would turn out.

I approached Ichinose and offered my hand.

"In order to make that choice a reality, we need to keep each other at a

proper distance. Nothing can start without communication. Of course, the

driving force can be hatred. There's no need for you to like me—"

"That's not right, Ayanokōji-kun."

Ichinose, who stood up while taking my hand, immediately denied it.

"This whole time I was shut away, I tried many times to dislike you. But I

couldn't do it. Even though I know it's stupid, I couldn't change my affectionate

feelings. And even today, no matter how cruel the words you showered onto me,

that still hasn't changed."

A citrus scent wafted through the air—

From Ichinose, who had been shut away, such a smell reached me.

In the darkness, I noticed her glossy hair color.

Perhaps, I've made a big misunderstanding.

I thought that I led and guided everything today.

But actually...

"Did you know I'd come here?"

"Yes, I knew. You would definitely come to check what state I'm in, what

feelings I have. You wouldn't be able to suppress that impulse."

Ichinose was certain that I would visit her today, no matter how late it got.

The emotionless messages on the phone. The door that wasn't locked.

The room that was cleaned and the fact that she was dressed as if expecting

someone.

It meant she prepared everything.

I didn't think she could predict my proposal, but then again, I wasn't sure.

It wasn't unlikely for Ichinose to have sensed everything, even if she didn't

know it all.

"It's already past curfew. If you leave the room now, someone might find

you. That might interfere with our plans."

"That's true…"

"...So, I'll have to make you an accomplice, okay...?"

She exceeded my imagination, not just once but twice.

Indeed, Ichinose was excellent.

"How do you plan to make me an accomplice?"

"I won't allow any more unnecessary secrets between me and you,

Ayanokōji-kun. I don't want to."Ichinose grabbed my hand.

She didn't say anything, yet she pulled forcefully.

Then, as if drawing me closer to her, she then pushed strongly against my

chest.

Sit on the bed—I felt such an intention from her and sat down. No, I was

made to sit.

Ichinose, standing in front of me, looked down at me.

"I think I understand Karuizawa-san better now."

"...What do you mean?"

"She probably touched your darkness, was saved, and then saw hell again.

And you think that's necessary for her."

"Maybe."

"That's quite one-sided, isn't it? Even if it ends up being salvation, no one

can say that the method is right. You hurt and break the other person on your

own, then fix them."

Ichinose didn't know that I had broken up with Karuizawa.

However, she understood from the course of events that I was intending to

break up with her.

"I'm the same, right? Just like Karuizawa-san—no, like the other students.

We're all being made to dance in the palm of your hand."

Ichinose's eyes were beautiful. Clear, yet somehow dark, strong, weak, and

sharp.

Her eyes, showing various changes, were now shining even more intensely.

They were a color that exceeded my calculations, indeterminate, neither

light nor dark.

"You are—"

Both my shoulders were grabbed, and with weight applied, I was pushed

backward.

"Ayanokōji-kun, you're using me, so I have the right to use you too, don't

I?"

"At the very least, I have no right to deny that."

"My feelings for you cannot be changed. I can't forget them. Rather, I

wanted to see you so badly. More than any of my classmates, more than any of

my family, I can only think about you. But Ayanokōji-kun, you are different. You

don't look at me. You think more broadly, and only about yourself."

Seeing through my true feelings, Ichinose smiled.

"I think that's okay, but I won't forgive you. Just as you've deeply

engraved your existence into my heart without permission, I also want to deeply

engrave my existence into your heart by my own will."

Weight was placed on my hands atop Ichinose's bed, and it faintly creaked.

Her hands grabbed mine and moved them.Ichinose's heartbeat, which I shouldn't have been able to hear directly, was

transmitted through my hands.

It was clear that she was in an extremely tense state—it was very fast, far

from calm.

Outside the window, the rain struck the glass and danced wildly.

"You're doing something terrible to Karuizawa-san. If she found out...

she'd definitely be troubled, right?"

"Sorry, but I broke up with Karuizawa before coming here. I'm visiting a

girl's room at night, so I've already taken care of the risk management."