The classroom grew lively as morning classes ended and lunchtime began.
Students split into two groups: those heading to the cafeteria and those staying behind to eat, each gathering with their usual friends to chat.
From what I could see, only about fifteen students remained.
Since more than half the class had left, it seemed most people in this class preferred the cafeteria.
I had brought my own bento, putting me in the minority. Ryūen and his rowdy group were firmly in the cafeteria camp.
"As always, your bento looks pretty fancy."
After tidying up after class, I spread out my lunch. Ibuki, who sits in front of me, turned to speak.
She spun her chair ninety degrees so we were facing each other across my desk.
"Shiina headed off somewhere, so I'm eating here today."
"I see."
With my acknowledgment, she opened her own bento.
It was a plain meal in a simple plastic container—nothing stylish about the box, yet it somehow suited Ibuki perfectly.
"Itadakimasu~"
She picked up her chopsticks and began eating, chewing thoroughly before swallowing and reaching for the next bite.
I followed her lead, savoring the meal.
"By the way, what did you and Ryūen talk about the other day?"
A silent lunch apparently didn't suit her; she quickly started a conversation.
The topic was my private conversation with Ryūen a few days earlier.
"About X."
"Heh~ figures."
I gave her only the basic outline.
My thoughts soon drifted to that enjoyable after-school moment.
Several days had passed since then, with nothing particularly eventful; ordinary days simply continued.
Yet I felt no boredom in that ordinariness.
The lingering glow of excitement still remained.
How long had it been since I last felt this?
It was like the heightened thrill after a classical concert—a fleeting moment that somehow promised to linger forever.
From the performer's intense expression, I could sense boundless potential. A desire welled up in me to see more of his future.
"Hey, Ishizaki. You got yesterday's message, right?"
During lunch, the self-styled king was issuing orders to his followers.
After giving similar instructions to a few people, he left the classroom alone, phone in hand.
Unable to cook for himself, he was undoubtedly going to buy food.
"He's still hunting for X like that. What a joke."
Ibuki sounded thoroughly unimpressed.
Ryūen hadn't told anyone except me that X was Ayanokōji.
To the rest of Class C, it simply looked like he was pouring effort into searching for someone whose very existence was still uncertain.
"Even if he finds X, it won't change much. It'll just be 'Oh, it was you' and that's it. Why is he so fixated?"
"Because Ryūen's methods resemble X's. That's why he's pursuing him so seriously."
There was meaning, after all, in pretending to search for someone he already knew.
Ryūen hadn't explained it to me, but I deduced it easily.
It was for his own amusement—and to put pressure on Ayanokōji.
Needless to say, Kakeru Ryūen is the type who enjoys tormenting others.
He particularly relishes cornering anyone who defies him, planning every step like a meticulous chef who never drops his guard during preparation, and taking pleasure in their eventual submission.
To him, the X who repeatedly rebelled during past special exams was a perfect delicacy. And on top of that, Ayanokōji's tactics mirrored his own.
It would be harder for Ryūen not to take an interest.
So he was "cooking" his prime prey—Ayanokōji—in his own preferred style.
That, in turn, created pressure.
He wanted Ayanokōji to constantly feel that Class C was targeting X, even in everyday life. He wanted to instill daily fear in the one who had hidden his identity so well until now—a psychological assault.
It was also a bluff to keep Ayanokōji from realizing his cover was blown, all part of a scheme to wear down his nerves.
"Aren't you getting orders from him too?"
"Not today."
Ibuki, focused on eating, answered curtly.
Despite her sharp demeanor, she brought her own lunch.
I had encouraged her to start making bentos early in the school year, and it seemed to have taken root.
She could be careless at times, yet she had kept it up consistently.
Of course, being homemade meant she could load it with whatever she liked.
So her personal tastes inevitably came through loud and clear.
"That's quite a low-fat, high-protein meal."
Chicken breast as the centerpiece, surrounded by a nutrient-rich salad heavy on broccoli, carrots, and asparagus.
Very little rice—a dish with carefully calculated calories.
At my remark, Ibuki flinched and looked mildly guilty.
She clearly hadn't wanted me to notice.
At the start of the year, she and I ate lunch together every day and even walked home together, but once she began spending more time with Shiina, those occasions dwindled.
Still, whenever Shiina was absent, Ibuki would come sit with me.
Today, Shiina had rushed straight to the library after morning classes, leaving the two of us to share the meal.
Since it had been a while, she hadn't considered that a guy might see her bento and had brought her usual dieting/muscle-building selection—hence the embarrassed expression.
Ryūen would have teased her relentlessly.
"It's whatever."
"I don't mind. But Ibuki, aren't you just batch-preparing the exact same thing and eating it every day?"
"...How did you know?"
I explained to the disgruntled-looking girl.
"The menu is too perfectly balanced. Calories and PFC ratios are all precisely managed.
You probably followed recipes recommended by a nutritionist or trainer, right?"
"True, but that alone wouldn't let you guess it's the same thing every day."
"You wouldn't cook just that small amount at once. The logical conclusion is that you make a large batch and portion it out for multiple days."
With talents in analysis, cooking, and nutrition all at my disposal, reverse-engineering the process from the finished dish was effortless.
"While I'm at it—you're scared to change the seasoning because it would mess up your calorie counts, so you stick to the same flavors every time, aren't you?"
"Eww... that's creepy."
She grimaced, mouth half-open.
I ignored the offhand comment and scooped the last side dish together with rice into my mouth.
"...So how do I switch up the taste without ruining the balance?"
"I'll teach you a recipe now. Take notes if you want."
Confirming she had opened her phone's memo app, I explained the recipe.
"What kind of recipe?"
Shiina, having returned to the classroom, asked Ibuki, who was reviewing her notes.
In sharp contrast to Ibuki's prickly aura, Shiina radiated soft, rounded gentleness that clearly signaled her good mood.
Ibuki probed for the reason.
"Find a good book?"
"Fufu, I did. But I found something even better than a book."
"Something better?"
"A reading partner. There's someone in this school who loves mystery novels as much as I do."
Shiina was wrapped in pure bliss, as if she had just tasted the finest sake.
As a devoted bookworm, she had longed for a friend to discuss novels with since the day she enrolled.
Today, that wish had finally come true.
No exaggeration in that radiant expression.
"Wow, there's actually someone here who loves novels as much as you, Shiina."
"Yes. We got so absorbed in talking that I even lent him one of my books."
"That's wonderful."
Ibuki responded to the beaming Shiina almost like a protective mother.
"By the way, what's his name?"
"Ayanokōji-kun. He's in first-year Class D."
Ibuki froze for a split second at the name.
"...That guy, huh."
"You know him?"
"Sort of. We've spoken a few times. He doesn't seem like a bad person."
"Yes, he's really kind."
Ibuki let the topic drop there, then leaned close to me and whispered.
"...This is okay, right? Ayanokōji is one of the candidates for X."
"If he's not a bad person, and your hobbies match, I think the friendship will keep growing."
As I calmed her unnecessary worry, the warning bell for the end of lunch rang.
The next bell would signal the start of afternoon classes, so we parted to prepare.
...
Afternoon classes ended, and after-school hours arrived.
The classroom grew hectic as students scattered to their own plans.
But as usual, I had nothing in particular to do today either.
If I went straight back to the dorm, I'd finish homework and then either read to kill time or pointlessly squander my talents.
"Hey, you lot. Keyaki Mall again today. Same time as always."
"Yes, understood."
Ryūen was issuing orders to a handful of students.
Komiya answered as their representative.
They were the underlings Ryūen had assigned to keep tabs on Ayanokōji and his friends.
"Ryūen."
I approached him, partly to relieve my boredom.
"Later. I'm busy giving these guys their instructions right now."
I pressed on, eager to stave off the tedium.
"It's about that. Mind if I join the surveillance team?"
Ryūen's followers stared at me, eyes wide.
A natural reaction—the king's rarely active right-hand man volunteering for stakeout duty.
It was unusual enough that Komiya kept blinking in disbelief.
"No chance. The second you move, the target gets wary. Finally acknowledge how much presence you have."
Ryūen rejected the idea without hesitation.
"I also possess talents for erasing my presence."
"Still no. X is my prey. I'm not letting you interfere."
The second refusal came in a low voice, backed by unshakable resolve.
He clearly didn't want my involvement to breed suspicion in Ayanokōji.
"I see. Then is there anything else I can do?"
"You're awfully eager today. Bored?"
"Yes."
"Where's Ibuki?"
"She left with Shiina."
Just moments ago, the two of them had exited the classroom together, looking close.
"Sorry, but I've got nothing for you right now. All the pieces are in place for cornering X.
Save your energy for the future and live frugally or whatever."
Ryūen declared there was no role for me, his words laced with barbs.
At this rate, I wasn't the Ultimate Hope—just an ordinary high schooler.
Or more precisely, a below-average student living a solitary life.
"I see. Then I'll go blow some money today."
"Hah, what's a frugality freak like you planning to spend it on?"
"Maybe I'll try picking up girls. Christmas is right around the corner, after all."
"Kuku, that so. Give it your best shot."
I ignored the sarcasm-drenched encouragement and left the classroom.
Truth be told, I had no after-school plans whatsoever.
I'd probably just kill time in the dorm somehow.
Time passes the same no matter how it's spent, so I spend it carelessly.
Read the book Shiina recommended, try a new recipe, or sleep the afternoon away.
Boring—but today would be another day just like that.
"Hey, Kamukura-kun."
As I strode quickly down the hallway toward the shoe lockers, a clear female voice called out to me.
I turned to see Chiaki Matsushita from Class D approaching.
Just when I'd been thinking of ways to dispel the boredom, something new arrived.
As always, my talent for luck was predictable and uninteresting.
"Did you need something important?"
My question made Matsushita tilt her head, puzzled.
To clarify my meaning, I shifted my gaze toward the Class D students peeking from around the corner.
Among them I spotted familiar faces—Karuizawa, Satō, and others.
After following my line of sight, Matsushita offered an explanation.
"They're your friends, right? Since you came all the way here instead of waiting with them, I figured there must be a reason."
"Ah, that's what you meant. It might indeed qualify as important business."
Her thin smile kept her true intentions unclear, yet it still piqued my interest.
"You remember? We promised last time~"
She teased lightly.
I briefly searched my memory.
The day we'd spoken had been one week before the Paper Shuffle began.
Roughly two weeks had passed since the Paper Shuffle ended about a week ago.
"Exchanging contact information?"
If we had made any promise, it was to exchange contacts after the exam.
Back then, through Hirata's mediation and to eliminate any risk of betrayal during the Paper Shuffle, we'd postponed it.
I'd honestly assumed it was mere politeness.
So her going out of her way to bring it up now was unexpected even to me.
"Yep. Spot on."
Matsushita answered with a playful lilt.
I knew the attitude was an act, but it didn't bother me, so I said nothing.
"But it hardly seems worth making your friends wait."
"I didn't make them wait—they're just waiting on their own.
Come on, when a girl talks to a guy this time of year, everyone gets curious, right?"
"This time of year" meant Christmas.
We were already halfway through December; any hint of a last-minute romance was more than enough gossip fodder.
For high schoolers in the prime of adolescence, it would be impossible not to care.
"Fair point. Still, approaching me knowing it would cause this reaction seems like an irrational decision."
"No, no—today was my only chance. It's actually pretty hard to talk to you at school, Kamukura-kun."
"I'm aware my appearance makes me unapproachable."
"If you're aware, then cut your hair… wait, no!
It's Ryūen. You're often with him or his friends, so it's hard to get close."
I had spent a lot of time with Ryūen during the Paper Shuffle period.
And in daily school life, I frequently spoke with Ishizaki and Albert.
To students from other classes, Ryūen's group carried poor rumors, so a lone girl approaching took real courage.
Moreover, she hadn't been prioritizing contact with me, so she wouldn't seek me out deliberately; she'd likely planned to raise the topic only if she happened to run into me.
"You were alone today, so it was perfect timing."
Seeing me by chance and alone made it a good opportunity.
"Then let's get it done quickly."
There was no need to waste time, so I reached for my phone in my pocket.
But Matsushita stopped the motion.
"Wait. Isn't just exchanging contacts kind of boring?"
"What do you mean?"
"Want to hang out afterward? I've been wanting to… talk with you a little, Kamukura-kun."
Lowering her voice slightly, Matsushita said so.
"Would that include the other Class D students?"
It was the Christmas season.
An opposite-sex invitation to spend time alone.
In other words—a date. If I could simply call it that, I would feel considerably more at ease.
"No way. Class D lost to Class C in the Paper Shuffle.
Suddenly hanging out with someone from Class C would be way too suspicious, wouldn't it?"
Her eyes weren't smiling.
Unlike the dazed, entranced stare of someone intoxicated by my talents, she was looking straight at me with strong, unwavering intensity.
"It's just the two of us. I told you I wanted to talk, remember?"
"Seeking a one-on-one conversation right after a special exam also strikes me as unusual."
"It's not unusual at all. Geez, Kamukura-kun, you're surprisingly dense."
Matsushita let a hint of bashfulness color her voice.
Of course, I saw through the act immediately.
She was clearly scheming something.
Yet because I couldn't yet grasp the full picture, a faint spark of interest stirred.
"Very well. I'll accept your invitation.
Keyaki Mall works fine as the location, yes?"
"Yeah. Then let's go together."
She took an exaggerated step forward, then spun 180 degrees.
From facing me head-on to falling in beside me.
"I don't mind, but there's something we should handle first."
Matsushita tilted her head as if to ask what I meant.
But when I shifted my gaze toward her classmates, she understood at once and let out a sigh.
The piercing stares I'd felt all along belonged to the Class D girls, with Karuizawa at the forefront.
Worried looks, anxious ones, jealous glints, and plain curiosity.
The onlookers seemed ready to swarm us at any moment.
No—they wasted no time moving in.
"Hey, Matsushita, getting a head start?"
A girl with reddish-brown semi-long hair—Satō Maya—called out cheerfully.
Oblivious to the chill in the air around her, she grinned as she spoke.
Her expression was completely different from the last time we'd met. This carefree smile was worlds apart from the wary, forced politeness she'd shown before.
"Hey, hey—was there already something going on since last time? Is Kamukura-kun really your type, Matsushita?"
Satō pressed forward relentlessly.
Matsushita answered with a troubled look.
Aside from the two of them, the rest kept their guard up around me, splitting the mood in two.
"...Hey, Matsushita. Are you sure you're okay?"
A girl peering out from behind Karuizawa asked, voice laced with worry and caution.
"I'll be fine, Shinohara-san. I'm just keeping a promise."
"I-I see. Then... good luck? ...Is that the right thing to say?"
"Yeah! Thanks!"
Matsushita waved gently in response.
Both Karuizawa and the girl called Shinohara looked like they still had more to say, but after exchanging glances, they backed off.
They'd decided it would be rude to pry further.
"Sorry to keep you waiting—shall we go?"
An upward glance and soft expression.
Though her calculated, heart-tugging performance only deepened my boredom, I followed anyway.
We changed into our outdoor shoes and headed toward Keyaki Mall as planned.
***
If you want to read up to 25 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit our patron: pat reon . com / XElenea (remove space)