After the group met up, they left the school building together and arrived at the courtyard connecting the various areas.
Natsukawa Sosuke stopped, glanced at the slightly unwieldy group beside him, and spoke calmly.
"Five people moving together is too large a target, and the efficiency isn't high."
His voice wasn't loud, but it caused everyone to stop.
Ike Kanji looked at Natsukawa with some confusion: "Then what do you mean?"
"Investigate separately." Natsukawa's gaze swept over the group. "Ayanokoji and I will head south toward the Special Education Building, and the three of you should go north toward the Club Building. By splitting up the inquiries, we cover a wider area and the efficiency will be higher."
This suggestion instantly made Ike Kanji's eyes light up.
He was teamed up with Kushida, and the fewer annoying boys, the better! It was a tremendous stroke of luck that Natsukawa and Ayanokoji, those two quiet types, voluntarily left!
"I agree!" Ike Kanji immediately voiced his approval without thinking. "Natsukawa is right, splitting up is more efficient!"
Although Kushida Kikyo was somewhat reluctant, Natsukawa's reasoning sounded logical, and she couldn't find an excuse to object. Furthermore, in front of Ike and Yamauchi, it wouldn't look good if she showed an intention to insist on being grouped with Natsukawa.
"Mm, I think this is better too." Kushida nodded, maintaining her gentle, cooperative smile.
Thus, the five-person team split into two groups.
Kushida led Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki toward the north. Ike Kanji excitedly tried to find various topics along the way, attempting to gain Kushida's attention.
Meanwhile, Natsukawa Sosuke and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka leisurely strolled in the opposite direction.
As soon as they were out of sight of Kushida and the other two, Natsukawa immediately decided to "slack off." He walked straight to an empty bench near the courtyard, sat down naturally, and leaned back in a relaxed posture.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka followed him, and seeing this scene, he stopped, slightly speechless.
Natsukawa turned his head to look at Ayanokoji, who was still standing, and asked, "Why are you taking this matter so seriously too?"
"I'm not." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's answer was honest. "I was just forcibly dragged along by Ike and Yamauchi."
As he spoke, he sat down on the other side of the bench, maintaining a subtle distance from Natsukawa.
After a brief silence, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka proactively spoke up, breaking the quiet. He watched the backs of Kushida and the two boys disappear around the corner in the distance and asked, "Natsukawa, what is your view on this Sudo matter?"
Natsukawa Sosuke's gaze remained fixed straight ahead as he uttered a few words.
"I'm watching it while seated."
"..."
This answer successfully caused a slight crack in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression.
Natsukawa seemed unconcerned with the other party's reaction and continued speaking on his own: "However, Sudo is still very useful. The fact that he's already a regular member of the Basketball Club shows that his physical talent is top-tier."
"Although he has a volatile temper and explodes easily, if you can put the right reins on him, he's a good horse that can pull the carriage of Class D."
After speaking, Natsukawa turned his gaze toward Ayanokoji beside him, his deep eyes carrying a subtle hint of scrutiny.
"Relay a message to Horikita for me."
"...What?" Ayanokoji was slightly surprised that Natsukawa would suddenly mention Horikita.
"If she still wants to move up to Class A, she must attend the negotiation at the Student Council next week."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly: "Why don't you tell her yourself?"
"I thought you were sent by her to approach me and gauge my situation." Natsukawa's tone was calm, as if stating a fact. "If not, then forget it. It doesn't matter if you don't want to pass it on; I just say whatever comes to mind anyway."
Ayanokoji didn't reply. He knew Natsukawa had seen through Horikita's little scheme. Indeed, Horikita Suzune was full of curiosity regarding Natsukawa, who had displayed astonishing abilities and an information network during the midterm exam incident.
The two continued chatting sporadically, enjoying the rare tranquility.
Suddenly, a slightly hurried shout came from the tree-lined path not far away, shattering the peace.
"Natsukawa-kun—!"
Natsukawa Sosuke and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked in the direction of the sound simultaneously.
They saw Ichinose Honami carrying her school bag and approaching their bench with a quick, jogging pace.
"Hoo... hoo... Natsukawa-kun, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, you really are here."
"Um, I just heard that something happened in Class D. What exactly is going on?"
Natsukawa Sosuke looked at her and asked in a calm tone, "Who told you?"
"It was Kushida-san!" Ichinose Honami straightened up and explained, "I just happened to run into Kushida-san and her group near the Club Building. Seeing them hurrying around asking people for information, I went over and asked."
"After she told me about Sudo-kun's situation, I felt this matter might be a bit troublesome, so I wanted to come and ask you... if Class B needs to help?"
She said this very naturally, her tone filled with genuine goodwill. However, the content of her words caused a slight ripple in the heart of Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who had remained silent nearby.
Ichinose Honami, the undisputed leader of Class B. Her popularity, ability, and sense of responsibility far surpassed Hirata Yosuke of Class D.
Yet, at this moment, when facing an internal dispute within Class D, her first reaction wasn't to seek out the obvious "persons in charge" like Hirata or Kushida. Instead, she bypassed them entirely to find Natsukawa Sosuke, an ordinary, unassuming student, and asked if help was needed in a tone that was almost deferential.
This attitude could no longer be simply explained away as "concern between friends."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka keenly realized that in Ichinose's mind, Natsukawa Sosuke's status and importance already superseded Class D as a collective. What she displayed was the subconscious attitude of a subordinate seeking instruction and opinion when facing a superior.
Of course, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression remained calm and undisturbed. He simply sat there quietly, observing everything like a non-existent backdrop.
After Ichinose Honami said those words, she seemed to realize it immediately as well.
Looking at Natsukawa's calm, emotionless profile, she suddenly realized that her previous words had been too hasty and impolite. Natsukawa-kun was not the leader of Class D, and bypassing Hirata-kun and the others to consult him directly on strategy was irregular from any perspective.
A faint blush appeared on Ichinose's cheeks, the embarrassment of realizing her blunder.
But she quickly adjusted her mindset, putting back on her energetic smile and naturally changing the topic, shifting the atmosphere from serious class strategy back to casual concern between friends.
"Ah, speaking of which..." Ichinose's tone became light. "Airi-chan... how has she been recently? Is everything okay?"
She cleverly used Sakura Airi as a starting point, which both expressed her concern and eased the slightly awkward atmosphere.
Natsukawa Sosuke's gaze softened for an instant. He nodded: "Yes, she's back to normal."
"That's good!" Hearing this news, Ichinose Honami genuinely breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on her face became more sincere.
"We really owe you for what happened last time, Natsukawa-kun! You are definitely the biggest hero for Airi being able to move past her trauma!"
She was generous with her praise, and then, as if remembering her "main business," she waved at Natsukawa and Ayanokoji.
"Since you two are resting here, I won't disturb you! I'll go find Hirata-kun and the others first and see if there's anything I can help with! After all, we're allies!"
Having said that, she turned around again and, with light steps, chased after the direction Kushida and her group had left, leaving behind an energetic figure.
Watching Ichinose Honami's figure disappear at the end of the tree-lined path, silence returned to the bench.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze lingered thoughtfully on Natsukawa's profile for a moment, but in the end, he said nothing.
He knew that the fog surrounding the man before him was far thicker than he had initially anticipated.
....
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