Volume 5, Chapter 4: Intro - How Their Relationship Came to Be

In the midst of the other classes moving onto reconnaissance, there were small movements in Class D too. So-and-so are good at what or who is athletic or not. That sort of information is present everywhere. The majority have already begun to realize this but there is very little meaning to direct reconnaissance. Just by ascertaining the degree of someone else's athleticism to one's heart's content, ultimately the key to victory lies in the combination of partners for the contests. Information alone is not worth much.

Unless you know the contents of their participation table, which is the essence of it all, it won't lead to victory over the other classes. However, vice versa if we can acquire information on their participation table, it would be a great help towards defeating them. And if we can acquire both the 'participation table' and 'information', then our chances will rise drastically.

But as a rule of thumb, the participation table is not shared with the other classes. And since it would be equivalent to strangling themselves should it leak, thorough control of the information is likely.

The one exception.....would be Class D that's carrying a bomb internally though. One week before the sports festival. I made my move as soon as classes were over. I called out to Horikita, who was packing up her things beside me.

"Please accompany me for a bit after this".

"If I said no?".

"Of course you're free to say that but I won't be taking responsibility then if Class D faces a predicament".

I got straight to the point, and by suddenly saying something that sounds like a threat, Horikita was a loss for words for a moment.

"...this is something I can't quite ignore. Fine, what do you want?".

"You'll understand if you come along".

Saying that, I passed in front of Horikita, who had been demanding an answer. I then called out to one other target.

"Kushida, do you have a moment?".

I headed over in front of Kushida, who was chatting away with the girls in the class and called out to her like that.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Ayanokouji-kun?".

Kushida also turned to look for a moment at Horikita, who was keeping quiet even as she gave off an aura of dislike.

"Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?".

On Saturday, which should be a day off for Kushida, I tried inviting her out for something.

"I don't have anything planned so far. I guess only as far as thinking I'd clean my room".

"If you're fine with it, can I borrow some of your time for the morning only?".

I cut in with that. If Kushida shows any sign of discontent with it, I had every intention of withdrawing immediately.

"Sure thing".

However, as if to dispel such anxieties, Kushida accepted with a smile.

"But how unusual, for Ayanokouji-kun to invite me out".

"That may be so. By the way, Horikita will also be coming along".

"Hey".

I reined in Horikita with my hand as she voiced her complaints.

"Sure, I don't mind that at all.....but what do you mean by the morning only?".

"Including Kushida, who's familiar with information on the other classes, I want to once again conduct reconnaissance on the enemy is what I thought. I was invited to do so by Horikita but there are many things I don't know".

I honestly informed Kushida of what I was thinking. However, the part about Horikita alone was an improvisation.

As long as I intend to ask her to accompany me, it won't succeed unless I tell her the truth and Kushida also needs to understand her role.

After finishing with the conversation, as though she were convinced, Kushida repeatedly nods.

"I might be the most suitable one for that. Yeah, roger. What time would be good? The earlier it is, the better, right?".

"That's right. If possible, something like around 10 o'clock? Is that fine?".

"Completely fine. Then tomorrow we'll meet up in the dorm's lobby?".

"Yeah, thank you".

It appears Kushida had promised to go back with her friends as she left while waving her hand towards the girls waiting in the corridor. As I moved to do the same and go back, Horikita grabs hold of my back.

"What are you on about? I never heard about this".

"Of course, because I never told you about it. But reconnaissance isn't such a bad thing, right?".

"I don't understand the reasoning behind inviting me. If it's reconnaissance, then you and Kushida-san should have been more than enough?".

"...are you seriously saying that?".

"What? I wouldn't say something like that as a joke".

Apparently, I can't afford to send Horikita back just yet.

"We're standing out too much here. Let's talk on our way back".

I stepped out into the corridor with a vigor as though leaving Horikita behind. Horikita, in pursuit, lined up beside me.

"During the shipboard exam, you haven't forgotten the outcome of your team, have you?".

"Of course not, the identity of the 'target' in Class D was unanimously seen through. A humiliating result".

"That's right. It became a result that normally could not have been. There is definitely a reason for that".

"I too understand that. But I don't know why, and no matter how much I think about it I cannot find an answer. I can guess at least that Ryuuen-kun was involved in it though...".

I understand well that she's ended up colliding with a difficult question that seems like a dead end. In all likelihood, inside Horikita numerous questions are forming then fading then forming again before fading repeatedly.

"It's not like I have any certainty either but I have already reached a single, complete hypothesis regarding that".

As I said that, Horikita looked at me as though she were genuinely shocked.

"Are you saying you've figured out Ryuuen-kun's strategy?".

"Yeah, but to be precise it's not just Ryuuen. There is one other person greatly involved in the outcome of that exam".

We reached the main entrance and retrieved our shoes from the shoe rack. Then we went outdoors and resumed our conversation.

"If we think about it normally there's no way the identity of the 'target' can be found out. You, and Hirata too, never revealed to anyone the fact that Kushida is the 'target', right?".

"Naturally".

"But what about Kushida herself? If she intentionally revealed herself?".

Horikita probably could not comprehend what I was saying for a moment there. Normally this isn't something that anyone would even think of so it's natural. There isn't a single imbecile who would reveal the fact that they are the 'target' themselves.

"Impossible, right? Something like that...there are no benefits in it for Kushida-san".

"You can't say with certainty that there are no benefits, right? For instance, how about something like making a backroom deal to reveal that she's the 'target' in exchange for private points from another class. Something like that".

"Even if that's true.....it's an act that disadvantages Class D. In the first place, if someone turns traitor then it's all over, it's a gamble far too dangerous".

"That depends on the timing, right? There are many ways to build trust".

"Are you saying she'd betray her allies to gain points temporarily?".

"That may be so and that may not be so. The reason is something only Kushida knows".

That is why in order to ascertain the truth of it, I invited Kushida.

"So you brought me and Kushida-san together....to ascertain the truth?".

Having come this far, finally Horikita too has reason to think Kushida has turned traitor.

"It's because you and Kushida seem to share something extraordinary like fate after all. If there's something worth more than private points to turn traitor over, it would no longer be strange".

As I looked at her to check, Horikita awkwardly averted her eyes.

"There's nothing like fate between me and Kushida-san".

"If so, can you say with 100% certainty that she won't betray the class over you?".

"That is---".

"If there's something you're thinking about, we should confirm it. No, if we don't confirm it it'll be over you know? You can imagine it too, right? No matter what kind of exam it may be, as soon as a traitor appears from within your allies then the class no longer has any chance of winning".

The previous exam, and the exam before the previous one as well, and in this sports festival too, I understand well how simple it is for the class to collapse from just a single traitor alone.

In no time at all, we had returned in front of the dormitory and we got onto the elevator standing by on the 1st floor.

"You're free to choose whether you'll come tomorrow or not but if you intend on leading the class, think carefully about it".

I got off on the 4th floor where my room is and with that, I bid farewell to Horikita.