Volume 10, Chapter 3: The Difficulty of Salvation Part 5

After leaving the classroom, I immediately headed toward the front entrance of the school.

On the way, I happened to come across Class As Sakayanagi Arisu. I could see Kamuro standing beside her.

Ayanokji

On guard, Kamuros body stiffened up.

However, as usual, Sakayanagi didnt show any changes. She kept herself composed with relaxed, calm movements.

The contrasting reactions between the two of them were a little interesting.

What a coincidence. Ayanokji-kun.

Indeed. Is there something you need with Class C?

The two of them appeared to be headed toward Class C.

However, rather than answering me, Sakayanagi brushed off my question with a smile as she asked me one instead.

Where are you off to now?

I have plans to meet up with a friend at Keyaki Mall in around half an hour.

Is that so? It seems that youre living your life to the fullest. If you dont mind, could you spare me just a little of your time?

Sakayanagi took out her cell phone and checked the time.

Had she come this way just to meet up with me? No, that would be difficult to imagine.

It was still only ten minutes past four.

Even if it took several minutes to reach Keyaki Mall, there would still be over ten minutes left until 4:30.

Are you fine with standing as we talk?

Yes. Though, well attract attention if we talk here. How about we move someplace else?

Alright.

I also wanted to avoid standing out as much as possible.

It wouldve been different if it was with a classmate, but Sakayanagi was the type to attract attention whether she wanted to or not.

Since she was definitely aware of this herself, we began moving to a less populated location.

Matching Sakayanagis slow walking pace, time passed by as we moved through the building.

At any rate Ayanokji-kun, Masumi-san. Dont you think this supplemental exam is far too unreasonable? Theyve decided to force expulsions on us just because nobody has been expelled yet. Setting up an exam like this one Thinking about it rationally, its ridiculous.

Totally. Mashima-senseis usually pretty composed but even hes been giving off a sorta shaken vibe recently.

It seemed like the other teachers werent satisfied with the supplementary exam either.

Sakayanagi and Kamuro continued to talk.

There is a reason for that.

What, you know something?

Its a personal matter that Im a bit ashamed of, but my father was suspended from his position a few days ago.

Suspended Your father If Im not mistaken, hes the board chairman right?

Having known about Sakayanagis father already, Kamuro pressed for more information.

I havent heard about it in detail, but it seems that quite a few unfavorable things have come out regarding my father. The father I know is not the type of person who would dirty his hands with those sorts of matters. Of course, I cant rule out the possibility that I, as his daughter, simply didnt know about it, but its also true that someone may have planned all of this in order to force Father out of his position.

On the surface, these words had been spoken to Kamuro, but in reality, they were probably meant for me. If Sakayanagis father really was innocent, it wouldnt be surprising if that man had a hand in all of this.

The impression I had of Sakayanagis father may not have been a misunderstanding after all.

That said, this is something that has absolutely nothing to do with students like us. Its nothing but simple, idle chatter.

It seemed that Sakayanagi didnt see her fathers forced suspension as anything worth paying attention to.

Even so, what does any of that have to do with the exam?

Dont you think its possible that the school hastily prepared the exam all for the sake of forcing a certain someones expulsion?

Someone

Kamuro glanced over at me for an instant before immediately returning her gaze to Sakayanagi.

Ive tried not being bothered by it until now, but you Why have you been keeping your eye on Ayanokji?

Kamuro asked as she walked beside Sakayanagi.

Oh? Youve tried not being bothered by it until now, have you?

Of course I have.

Kamuro denied Sakayanagis implications, but the look on Sakayanagis face was one that seemed to fully understand everything.

However, instead of pressing the matter any further, she returned to Kamuros question.

I simply know him from a long time ago. Is this answer not acceptable enough?

Contrasting with Kamuros concern, Sakayanagi answered nonchalantly.

Considering the fact that she hadnt told Kamuro anything before, it was a fairly revealing answer.

It was also possible that she was trying to gauge my reaction. If I were to react poorly or carelessly interrupt their conversation, then it could end up being exposed as a weakness.

Well, in reality, I didnt really care.

So youre saying that the two of you just coincidentally reunited here? Thats such a slim possibility though.

Yes. The possibility is indeed slim. Right, Ayanokji-kun?

Maybe so.

While I had never once been acquainted with her before coming here, there technically wasnt anything incorrect about what she said.

Back then, our knowledge of each other was definitely one-sided.

Then, is he really a difficult person to handle? Sorry, but I just dont see it at all.

Just as Sakayanagi had done earlier, Kamuro got straight to the point.

In some sense, perhaps the two of them really were similar.

Youve become quite inquisitive lately, havent you? Up until now, I dont think youve ever thrown me this kind of question before.

It appeared as though the few times Id made direct contact with Kamuro had given her some ideas of her own.

Perhaps this had sparked some kind of uncontrollable curiosity within Sakayanagi as well.

You can ask anyone and theyd probably be thinking the same thing. Youve never been so fixated on someone like this before.

You came across to me as a particularly indifferent person who didnt like to interfere with other peoples affairs. That was why I had no reservations with asking you to keep an eye on Ayanokji-kun, but youre quite hopeless, arent you?

Sakayanagi sounded a little surprised, while also a bit delighted in some respects.

I had thought she was only saying this to see my reaction, but she just might have been asking these mean-spirited questions because she was interested in Kamuros responses instead.

As they talked, we arrived at our destination.

Nobody will bother us if we talk here.

We had arrived at the special building. It certainly was quiet, given that it was after school.

Well, Masumi-san. I apologize, but please head on back to the dorms without me.

Sakayanagi apparently had Kamuro walk all the way here simply because she wanted a conversation partner.

Whatever.

Sakayanagi ultimately decided to send Kamuro back home without saying too much about me at all.

Kamuro turned and walked down the stairway without resisting, making me wonder if she knew it would turn out this way all along.

Was that okay?

Yes. Wouldnt you have found it troublesome if I went and revealed something?

Not particularly.

If I showed any signs of weakness here, Id be giving her a chance to take advantage of it.

Furthermore, there was no need to give Sakayanagi any extra information.

I see that Ive been recognized as your enemy. I suppose Im willing to accept that for the time being.

My response and the reasoning behind it were so obvious that Sakayanagi understood the meaning behind my words without any issues.

Going so far as to have Kamuro head back without you, what are you looking to talk to me about?

We had spent a lot of time coming out here, so there wasnt too much left until my meeting with Hirata.

I urged her to get to the point.

Its about the promise we made with each other.

I agreed to face off with you during the next special exam. That is, this exam.

Yes, that was certainly the plan. However if its alright with you, I would like to put it off until next time. This supplementary exam isnt a competition between the classes. Rather, its a screening process for us to evaluate our own peers. The only way we can influence the other classes is with praise votes, and we cant attack one another even if we wanted to So wouldnt it be fine if we postponed our match until next time?

In other words, she was here to tell me that this particular special exam didnt count since it wasnt a befitting scene for our competition.

Are you willing to accept this proposal?

Make whatever decision you want.

Since I had given her the response she was looking for, Sakayanagi respectfully expressed her gratitude.

Thank you very much. I had been wondering what I would have to do if you didnt agree. Now, Ill be free to focus my attention on Class As internal politics. Though

Though?

Because weve agreed to a ceasefire, I suppose Ill tell you something in order to gain your trust. For this exam, I wont do anything that would put you at a disadvantage. That is to say, I absolutely wont cast you any censure votes.

She gave her word, restricting her own actions moving forward.

In the unlikely event that I were to interfere with Class C somehow and negatively impact your results I wouldnt mind accepting my loss. It would be perfectly acceptable for you to refuse to have a match with me during the next exam.

If my classmates were to focus their censure votes on me, there wouldnt be a next time in the first place.

Id then be expelled. End of story.

You are certainly right about that. Either way, please have some peace of mind. Thats all Im trying to say.

Her words were more than just courteous, but I guess these were the steps she needed to take in order to gain my trust.

Perhaps its possible that your subordinates betray you before our match can happen.

Fufu, youre quite the funny one.

Nearly every student in Class A was part of the Sakayanagi faction.

She was confident that the class wouldnt dare attempt to remove its own leader.

I had already decided who would be expelled as soon as the exam was announced.

You decided early on whod be removed? Sounds like the right decision.

Sakayanagi was able to make this decision precisely because she sat at the very top of her class.

So, when do you plan on telling your class who it is?

I already told them all a long time ago. Had I waited until the last minute to inform them, it wouldve only caused anxiety in its own way. By making it known ahead of time, its easier on the rest of the class, dont you agree?

It would be unbearable for the student slated to be forced out of the school.

However, the rest of the class would be able to avoid falling into disarray.

Do you know who it is Ive chosen, if I may ask?

ILLUSTRATION = https://imgur.com/a/f2Welc7

Who knows. I dont have the slightest idea.

Despite having stated otherwise, I had a fairly good idea.

Katsuragi Khei-kun.

A reasonable choice?

Hes the former leader of Class A who opposed me earlier in the year. Theres no need for two people to stand at the top of the same class, after all.

Katsuragi is a calm and composed person.

He most likely understood that hed be the scapegoat the moment he heard the details of the exam.

He had seemingly accepted his fate without resistance.

There were still some students who continued to follow Katsuragi like Yahiko, but they were greatly outnumbered.

I know youve seen him as an enemy since the beginning, but I was under the impression that he had stepped back from trying to lead the class.

Even among Class A, Katsuragi ranked high in terms of overall excellence.

I felt it would be a pity to lose him, but it seemed that Sakayanagi felt differently.

Among my friends, many already hate him. They simply cant agree with his conservative way of thinking. With that being the case, I can raise morale by showing him the door instead.

She appeared to be making a trade-off between losing out on combat power and boosting the morale of the class as a whole.

Is it alright for you to be telling me this? About who youre targeting?

Its not like youre going to do anything behind the scenes to protect him right, Ayanokji-kun?

It didnt seem like Id get any results that would make it worth the effort.

What are you planning to do with Class C?

Who knows. I wont be taking part in it. I intend to leave all the decision-making to my classmates.

When it comes down to it its as simple as removing one of the annoying ones, or even one of the incompetent ones.

Sakayanagi seemed to be enjoying herself as she thought about it.

Theres no need to think about what Class D intends to do. Theyre clearly going to rid themselves of Ryen-kun.

I didnt have any objections for her.

For Class A, there were no particular advantages to lending Ryen a hand.

Class A most likely wanted to see him expelled, even if it meant giving up a chance to get rid of the binding contract he had made with Katsuragi.

Though, I have no idea what Class B will do. For this entire exam, Im looking forward to seeing who gets expelled from that intimate class the most. Though, perhaps Ichinose-san has come up with something interesting?

Sorry. Its about time I go.

She was free to have as many delusions as she pleased. Its just that I would much rather she do it on her own.

Youre right. We can leave our conversation here for the time being. After all, the next special exam begins next week.

The distinctive noise of her cane striking the ground resounded throughout the hallway.

For a split second, Sakayanagis gaze turned to the surveillance cameras set up near the ceiling.

The movement was so subtle that I wouldnt have been able to notice it if I hadnt been watching her closely.

I wasnt able to determine whether it was intentional or just a random, casual glance somewhere else.

Well then, our match will be decided by the final special exam of the year, just as we had originally planned. Its a promise.

I responded with a small nod before leaving the special building.

(Part 5 End)