"You wouldn't want Toyo Electric to win the championship, would you?"
"We don't have a direct conflict. You can consider this a temporary alignment of interests-and before this competition ends, I'm still the chairman of the Kengan Association."
"So I hope you keep winning."
"If the future chairman ends up being one of you, that would make things a bit more interesting from a challenger's point of view~"
"And one more thing."
"-If you intend to help that young lady of the Shinomiya family, then you must be careful. Even on Ganryu Island."
"Those two Shinomiya boys wouldn't dare to act openly here. But they most likely already know about your involvement."
"So they'll definitely try to probe."
...
Because the Fang of Metsudo, Kanoh Agito, had lost, Metsudo Katahara still had to go see him.
Their conversation ended after only a few words.
Before leaving, Metsudo Katahara also mentioned that it was fine if Jaden and Erina stayed behind to continue watching the matches.
But in reality-
Erina had been frowning ever since he left.
"Jaden... about what Chairman Katahara just said."
Her gaze fell on him.
Jaden nodded calmly.
"The matter between us and the Shinomiya family isn't exactly a secret. Metsudo Katahara knows mainly because this is his territory. His people are everywhere."
"So it couldn't be hidden from him."
He paused.
"But aside from that, it wouldn't be easy for others to find out."
"If we exclude the possibility that he was deliberately exaggerating things..."
"Then, Erina, it's probably just as you're thinking."
Hearing Jaden confirm it, Erina nodded with a serious expression.
Neither of them said the answer out loud.
After adjusting their expressions, they walked side by side toward the exit.
As for what they were thinking-
They didn't need to say it.
They both knew.
-There was an insider from the Shinomiya family among them.
And by process of elimination, the answer became obvious.
It couldn't be Jaden.
It couldn't be Erina.
It couldn't be Kaguya Shinomiya herself.
Kure Fuki and Kure Kurara were with Erina almost constantly. They had neither motive nor opportunity in such a short span of time.
If Metsudo Katahara wasn't deliberately misleading them-
Then only one person remained.
"Hayasaka, if you're not feeling well, please go back and rest first."
Kaguya Shinomiya noticed Ai Hayasaka's pale complexion and spoke with concern.
Ai Hayasaka nodded.
"I understand... I feel much more at ease knowing Miss Kaguya is with Miss Erina."
"I'm... truly sorry about this."
"It's fine," Kaguya said gently. "Go and rest."
Kaguya watched as Ai Hayasaka left together with Kure Fuki.
Jaden and Erina exchanged a glance.
Their communication was silent.
"Jaden, it's her, isn't it?"
"Most likely. Don't worry about it. I'll handle it later."
"I understand."
That was all.
By the time Kaguya Shinomiya regained her focus, Jaden and Erina were already acting as if nothing was wrong.
Kurara, meanwhile, remained quietly at their side the entire time.
She knew her place.
She didn't say what she shouldn't.
And she didn't do what she shouldn't.
So-
"Today's matches are over! Big Sister Erina, Jaden, Kaguya-let's go explore the island!"
Kurara was strong.
Very strong.
But perhaps because the old patriarch of the Kure Clan spoiled her too much, she also carried a childlike innocence.
Right now, dressed in a black sailor uniform, she blinked eagerly and made her suggestion with enthusiasm.
Erina looked at her with a helpless yet indulgent expression.
Kaguya Shinomiya, on the other hand, hesitated slightly.
"If we go out together now..."
"It's fine."
Kaguya was worried that moving around together so openly would prematurely expose her relationship with Erina.
Her original plan had been to keep things hidden for a while longer. At least until Erina officially became the chairman of the Kengan Association.
But Erina shook her head.
"Kaguya, the fact that you've been in contact with us has most likely already been discovered by your two older brothers."
"And they wouldn't dare act openly on Ganryu Island. At most, they'll probe."
"So since things are already like this, instead of hiding, it's better not to hide at all."
"Let's see what kind of tactics they plan to use."
"Exposed?"
Kaguya frowned.
She wasn't stupid.
In fact, she was quite sharp.
She could work through most problems. She had even mentally ruled out Metsudo Katahara's suspicion.
But even so-
She hadn't suspected Ai Hayasaka.
She had suspected Kurara and Kure Fuki instead.
And because she couldn't be certain, she frowned.
Erina was about to speak.
But Jaden spoke first.
"Don't overthink it, Kaguya."
"First, trust that no one here is a traitor."
"If that assumption is wrong, then it just means we failed in our methods."
"In that case, we accept that they seized the initiative, and we respond with our own strength."
"There's no need to be paranoid."
Kaguya froze for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"You're right... I apologize."
"Growing up in the Shinomiya family, my thoughts became complicated without me realizing it."
Jaden smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine. We understand."
Erina nodded as well.
"Yes. We all understand."
Hearing those words, Kaguya Shinomiya felt something she had never experienced before.
-Trust.
Before this, the only person she could truly trust was Ai Hayasaka.
But now-
It seemed she had gained more companions she could rely on.
She felt slightly emotional.
Kurara spoke up again.
"So, can we go explore the island now?"
"You can."
"Yay!"
Kurara nodded excitedly and ran ahead.
Erina, Jaden, and Kaguya followed behind her.
Jaden's next opponent was already confirmed.
Raian Kure.
The match after that would most likely be against Gensai Kuroki. It probably wouldn't be that so-called "superman" who advanced today purely by luck.
As for the finals-
It would either be Julius Reinhold or Takeshi Wakatsuki.
That was the rough schedule.
So there was no need to keep watching the remaining matches.
Tomorrow was a rest day.
The day after that was the brutal stretch of three consecutive matches.
Spending today and tomorrow exploring and relaxing was completely fine.
All that mattered was maintaining condition.
That was what Jaden thought.
As for the probing from Kaguya Shinomiya's two older brothers-
To be honest, Jaden believed that if they weren't idiots, they wouldn't approach Kaguya while she wasn't alone.
They were also preparing for the family head elimination match a month later, wary of each other.
It was even less likely they'd send someone strong enough to make a direct move.
In that case, the so-called probing was probably just verbal pressure.
At most-
They'd come over and say a few threatening words.
Otherwise-
If you didn't want to expose the strength of the fighters your family had recruited for the headship competition...
There's no way you'd send someone to challenge me to a Shokugeki, right?
That was what Jaden thought.
But after walking around for less than half an hour-
He started to regret not voicing that thought earlier.
Because-
He hadn't expected Kaguya Shinomiya's two older brothers to be this stupid.
A man in black clothing approached them, holding a Shinomiya family business card.
Beside him was a short, plump young man.
The plump man looked at Jaden.
Then he smiled.
"The World's Best Chef, right?"
"My name is Teruteru Hanamura."
"Although this wasn't my intention, and I have no interest in any so-called Shokugeki with you..."
"Since Miss Junko told me to come, I came."
When he mentioned the name Junko, Teruteru Hanamura's expression grew noticeably more serious.
"Miss Junko has already prepared the specific terms."
"If you agree..."
"Then allow me to personally experience the culinary skills of the World's Best Chef."
He smiled.
"Let's have a Shokugeki."
...
[Teruteru Hanamura: The Ultimate Cook who appeared in Danganronpa 2]
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