After returning from the cruise.

Ayanokōji-kun and I were planning to enjoy our usual day-off date.

We agreed to meet outside and go watch a movie.

When I arrived at the meeting spot, Ayanokōji-kun was already there, along with another girl I didn’t recognize.

They seemed to be deep in conversation.

Is he getting hit on again?

“Ayanokōji-kun.”

I call out to him.

Surely he won’t keep talking in front of his girlfriend…

…Or so I thought, but the girl glanced at me briefly before turning back to Ayanokōji-kun.

“Anyway, come behind the dorm after this. Immediately.”

Wait, behind the dorm?

She’s not planning to confess, is she?

“Who are you? What do you want with my boyfriend?”

I emphasize “boyfriend” as I question her.

The girl frowns in annoyance, almost as if she’s about to click her tongue.

“Kamuro Masumi, Class A, first year. It’s not what you’re thinking, so don’t worry about it, Matsushita.”

“Kamuro-san, huh. Still, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make plans with my boyfriend on your own.”

“…Then how about you come too? It’s really not like that, and besides, I’m not even the one who wants to talk.”

“I never said I’d go.”

“Just come. See you.”

After saying her piece, Kamuro-san leaves.

“Matsushita, sorry. Some weird person got involved.”

“No, it’s fine. It was behind the dorm, right? Let’s just check it out.”

“You’re okay with that?”

“Yeah. It didn’t feel like anything romantic. And she’s from Class A, so it might be something related to that.”

Since I was invited too, I go along without hesitation.

When we arrive behind the dorm, no one is there.

Was it a prank?

Just as I think that, I hear the sound of a cane tapping the ground.

“Hello, Ayanokōji-kun, and…”

A small girl appears.

Silver hair, a small black hat, and a cane in her hand.

She looks like she stepped out of a fairytale.

After seeing both of us, she says “Excuse me,” and takes out her device.

“…Hello, Masumi-san? It seems someone not specified has arrived… yes, yes. I see. Very well, just this once. But please be more precise next time.”

She ends the call, giving off an unsettling air.

“Apologies. This is our first meeting, Matsushita Chiaki-san. I am Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A.”

“It’s our first meeting for me too.”

She smiles gently.

But I’m not naive enough to drop my guard just because of her name.

Sakayanagi Arisu.

Alongside Katsuragi-kun, she’s considered a leader of Class A.

No… after recent results, she might be the true leader now.

And that person called us… no, called Ayanokōji-kun here.

A declaration of war flashes through my mind.

“You’re the one who called me?”

“Yes. I’ve been eagerly waiting for the cruise to end. It’s been a while, Ayanokōji-kun. Eight years and 210 days.”

But what comes out of her mouth is a greeting of reunion.

About eight and a half years.

A childhood acquaintance?

But he said it was their first meeting…

“Sorry, but I don’t know you.”

“Of course. I’m the one who knows you unilaterally.”

I can’t grasp what she means.

No direct acquaintance, yet she knows him?

“Since you revealed yourself so late, I only noticed recently. Had I found you earlier, I wouldn’t have had to wait all summer.”

“Is that all? I have a date. We’re leaving.”

Ayanokōji-kun turns to go.

But Sakayanagi smiles unfazed.

“White Room.”

White Room…

A simple phrase, yet unfamiliar.

And its effect is immediate.

Ayanokōji-kun stops.

I’ve never seen this before.

Ayanokōji-kun, shaken.

“Won’t you stay and hear the rest? I’d rather not slip up in public.”

“…Who are you?”

“I told you already. But if that’s not enough…”

She raises a finger to her lips and smiles boldly.

“The one fit to bury the false genius is me.”

False genius.

That’s what she calls him.

“Well then, the timing isn’t ideal today. Let’s end it here.”

She glances at me as she says that.

If she leaves now, we might not get another chance.

“Ayanokōji-kun, I’ll go. I’d just be in the way.”

“Fufu. As expected, you’re competent, Matsushita-san. But if you’re his girlfriend, you should be more confident. You’re merely ‘capable,’ nothing more.”

Say whatever you want.

I won’t drag him down.

Just as I turn to leave, Ayanokōji-kun grabs my hand.

“You don’t need to leave. We’re just talking.”

“O-okay.”

“Sakayanagi. One question.”

“Yes? Why I know about the White Room?”

“No. I’m not interested in that.”

His eyes are deep.

Terrifyingly so.

“Can you really bury me?”

“…Fufu. Look forward to it.”

Sakayanagi walks away, tapping her cane.

“Was it okay to let her go?”

“We’re in the same school. We’ll have chances.”

He says it like it’s nothing.

Even though there must be so much he wants to ask.

…No, that’s me.

I want to ask.

About the White Room.

About “false genius.”

About everything.

“...Matsushita. About what she said… can you forget it?”

“Yeah. I can.”

I don’t need to know.

That’s a place he doesn’t want touched.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m a good girlfriend. I won’t pry. Tell me when you’re ready.”

“…Thanks.”

He looks… relieved.

* * *

Summer break ends, and classes resume.

In Class 1-D, Chabashira-sensei announces increased PE classes for the upcoming sports festival.

And that points will be affected.

When Hirata asks if it’s a special exam, she neither confirms nor denies.

We receive the rules.

Classes A and D form the Red Team, B and C form the White Team.

The losing team loses 100 class points.

No bonus for the winner.

Within each grade:

1st place: +50 points

2nd: no change

3rd: -50

4th: -100

So unless you win both, there’s no gain.

It’s a stingy event.

Individuals can earn small rewards.

For example, 1st place gives 5,000 private points or +3 test points.

Six individual events.

Even winning all gives only 30,000.

Compared to 500,000 from the ship exam, it’s nothing.

Still, smaller amounts are easier to keep.

Top overall gets 100,000, top per grade gets 10,000.

Still small.

There’s also a participation list with all entries.

If leaked, it’s a huge disadvantage.

“Next class is a Red Team meeting in Gym 1. Use the rest of the time freely.”

Chabashira leaves.

Before I can sit still, Horikita grabs my collar and drags me to Hirata.

Ow, ow, ow.

“Let’s begin. Any opinions?”

She stands at the podium, with me, Hirata, and Matsushita beside her.

I raise my hand.

“Ayanokōji-kun? Unexpected. Go ahead.”

“If possible, I want to participate in all individual events. I need some pocket money.”

Most agree.

A few oppose.

“Then it’s decided. You’ll participate in everything.”

“Wait, just individual events—”

“Sudo too. Can you?”

“Of course! Let’s do this!”

No one hears my protest.

“Your results will all be first place, so don’t lose.”

“That’s unreasonable.”

“Well, except the final relay. My brother’s class is there, so second place is fine.”

Brother complex much.

As I watch Horikita manage the class smoothly, I think—she’s really integrated now.

Let’s see what kind of strategy she shows.