'Kiyotaka-senpai!!! I wanted to see you!!!...'

I, Ichika-chan, barely managed to suppress those words that almost slipped out of my mouth.

Thinking about it calmly, if I approached Kiyotaka-senpai right now, it would only make the situation more complicated.

'And if people around us started asking about our relationship, I'd be in trouble... there's no way I could tell them the truth about how I know him...'

While hiding and thinking about that—

'Oh? Someone stepped in to stop them... huh? Looking closer... that's Takuya, isn't it?'

Oh?

It seems that Takuya, who apparently rushed over here just like I did, is telling Hōsen-kun that he should back down for now.

After exchanging a few words with Takuya, Hōsen-kun left the second-year floor together with Nanase-chan.

Takuya, who remained behind, is now apologizing to the second-year senpai for Hōsen-kun's behavior.

"Kushida-senpai, it's me... Yagami Takuya. Do you remember me?"

"Ah... ah! Y-yes... Yagami-kun?"

"Yes! I'm really happy that I got to enroll in the same school as you, senpai."

Just like in the original world, Takuya is using the setting that he attended the same middle school as Kushida-senpai.

And he's using that as an excuse to invite Kushida-senpai to form a pair.

Kushida-senpai's quick judgment in playing along with Takuya's act is honestly quite impressive.

In the original world, during the uninhabited island exam, I beat her thoroughly until she exposed her true nature.

I still remember that clearly.

'Well... that was because Kushida-senpai tried to get Kiyotaka-senpai expelled! Ichika-chan doesn't regret it at all!'

At this rate...

It feels like Kushida-senpai might try to get Kiyotaka-senpai expelled in this world too.

Honestly...

Maybe I should just eliminate her?

But there's no need to act immediately.

As far as I know, Kushida-senpai has absolutely no way of beating me as I am now.

'In the original world, Ichika-chan might have lost to Kushida-senpai in terms of popularity... but right now Ichika-chan is super popular~!'

That's how overwhelming the difference between Kushida-senpai and me is now.

If my opponent were Ishigami-kun or Kōenji-senpai instead, I would definitely consider them a threat and act immediately.

But if it's Kushida-senpai...

There's no need to rush, right?

'For now... it doesn't look like the right atmosphere for me to talk to him... just like in the original world, maybe I'll talk to him tomorrow~.'

And so...

At this point, Ichika-chan didn't speak to Kiyotaka-senpai.

Instead, she quietly returned to her classroom on the first-year floor.

* * *

The next day...

I waited at a certain spot on the school grounds for the people I was looking for to pass by.

'Wow... I'm getting nervous~!'

If things play out the same way as in the original world...

Kiyotaka-senpai should be coming here soon.

'Ah... the senpai are here... it's finally happening...'

In my line of sight were Horikita-senpai, Sudō-senpai… and the person I had been waiting for, Kiyotaka-senpai.

Most likely, just like in the original world, they were searching for a first-year student to pair with Sudō-senpai for the exam.

'Alright! Now's the moment...'

Using the special stealth technique unique to White Room students, I erased my presence and approached the three of them while they were talking.

"Hey there! Senpai... looks like you're in trouble~."

"W-what!? Where did you come from..."

"I didn't sense you at all..."

Just as expected, Sudō-senpai and Horikita-senpai were visibly shaken when they saw me suddenly appear.

On the other hand, Kiyotaka-senpai must have noticed my presence.

However, at this point he shouldn't know that I'm a White Room student.

He's looking at me with a sharp gaze, as if trying to probe something.

'He's probably trying to determine whether I'm an enforcer sent by the White Room... but I wonder how long he'll be able to keep his composure~?'

Facing Kiyotaka-senpai...

Ichika-chan makes an all-or-nothing gamble.

"Ah! Aren't you Ayanokōji-senpai!? It's me! Amasawa Ichika! Do you remember me? I can't believe I got to enroll in the same school as you! It feels like a dream!"

Kiyotaka-senpai...

Please!!!

As the masterpiece of the White Room...

Please improvise and play along with my act here!