15.5 Chapter 6.3: An Intertwined Past Part3

The time when most students headed towards the facilities within the ship.

The 1st year Class A student Amasawa Ichika went inside a guest room where one student was waiting for her.

"If your roommates return at this time what do you intend to say to them? That's what I'd normally say, but you've calculated that they definitely wouldn't be coming back haven't you?"

In reply to Amasawa's question, they laughed slightly without an answer.

"Do you understand the present situation? Nanase-chan, Horikita-senpai, and even Ryuuen-san. Each and every single one of them are looking for you in a frenzy. Is it okay to leave it like that?"

"This is okay. My plans are proceeding in an interesting way."

"Then tell me the details of that plan too-Takuya."

Having been called Takuya, the Yagami Takuya, registered under 1-B, quietly stood up from the bed.

"You don't study either, Ichika."

When Yagami approached her, Amasawa, blatantly on her guard against him, stared at him without blinking.

Because in the instant that she would blink, she could receive some sort of violent attack.

"I won't raise my hand in a place like this."

"I want to believe that myself."

"Indeed, you are no longer a student of the white room. So to me you are an enemy."

He extended his right arm and gently stroked Amasawa's bangs.

"That's what I thought but... I don't recognize you, of all people as such."

"Arara, you flatter me."

"That was a joke. Since you're now a normal person, you just can't do anything foolish."

"Since our conversation right now might be recorded."

"If it's just that you can do it as you like."

Yagami understood that he wouldn't lose anything if this conversation were recorded.

If Amasawa was completely on Ayanokouji's side, then she could've just told him about Yagami.

Even if he didn't believe that she was telling the truth, she could at least make him vigilant of Yagami.

"The reason I called you here was because I wanted to ascertain your true motive. Did you want to protect Ayanokouji and repeatedly obstruct my plans from your heart?"

"It's clear which one it is~"

Yagami laughed at Amasawa's joke and let go of the tips of her hair.

"There are too many things so it'd be bothersome to point them all out. Let's hear about the point that forced me to change my plans. On the island, what was the reason you obstructed Kushida and Kurachi whom I had sent after Ayanokouji?"

"I don't need to explain, do I? Because it would hurt Ayanokouji-senpai. Nanase-chan and Kurachi-kun. I didn't want to see a scene where those two who had nothing to do with him fought. He probably would have been able to escape well, but it definitely would have been dangerous."

"Yes. Indeed, whether Nanase or Kurachi, he would be able to deal with them without trouble. However, if we had obtained the recording of him dealing with them, we would have gained a bargaining chip. Even if Ayanokouji had forcefully taken the tablet from Kushida he wouldn't have been able to cancel the sending. And if he had physically destroyed it then other problems would arise."

Because of Amasawa who anticipated those actions, his plans stopped.

"Are you mad?"

"How could I be? In the end I think a more interesting production was made. We were able to see his disposition and the certainty of his judgement. Even though he felt an attack he didn't choose to use the GPS search. That's because he accurately read that even if he did that it wouldn't have been anything but a nuisance. If he were a regular person then it would've been standard to use a GPS search and chase after Kurachi and Kushida as Nanase did."

Even after returning to the ship he didn't show any changes in his actions resulting from that.

"Nanase-chan and Ryuuen-senpai ended up going into the dark forest. It doesn't seem like they've met before. Even if in the future they question Utomiya-kun, he doesn't have anything to do with this. Nothing would come of it. But what about Horikita-senpai? She got a hint from the paper you wrote on. It looks like she's trying to pinpoint it. To make people leave their handwriting in the treasure hunt name registry, she's thought a little."

"If I give her a little more hints, then sooner or later she would likely find me."

Yagami didn't seem to be panicked. On the contrary, he seemed to be looking forward to it.

"So you sending that 『paper』 was also on purpose?"

"Of course that's also my production. I want her to do her best and reach me, you see."

For that reason Yagami was sufficiently planting hints.

Even before she had been told, Amasawa understood that well.

"What comes next? If she matches up your handwriting, then that information would reach Ayanokouji-senpai's ears too."

Then he would be suspected to be a white room student.

"He never trusted me in the first place. He's even noticing and appraising the several lies I've sprinkled. This long-winded method was because Tsukishiro was in the way though. Now that he's withdrawn there's less of a need. There would be no meaning in crushing Ayanokouji from a prepared, advantaged setup after all."

"So it's okay if you're found out?"

"That's what it means. I don't think I'd really even care if I come out on my own."

From the beginning, Yagami has intended to fight Ayanokouji head-on.

But before, if he had done something imprudent then he might have been obstructed by Tsukishiro.

The various plans he made even as he followed Tsukishiro were all to stall for time.

"But now that the Uninhabited Island Test is finished we don't have any opportunities to fight the 2nd years right now do we? I think it'd be better for you to return to the white room sooner you know~"

From the perspective of Amasawa who didn't want to return, being excommunicated was a good thing.

But for Yagami it was the only place he should go back to.

"I need to crush him in perfect form. My backlog in studying can be put aside no matter how much."

His smile awkwardly showed his teeth. It was completely unlike his usual refreshingness.

"It really is twisted at other points than mine, your personality."

Amasawa continued in astoundment.

"Utomiya-kun is pitiful too. Even though he just thinks of his friends, to think that he had to join you to protect Tsubaki-chan. He'd be mad if he finds out that you're the one who had his classmate from C-Class expelled-"

"I knew that he was a clumsy person like that from the beginning after all. I believe that after losing one of his classmates he'll certainly want to avoid it next time. He originally never would have joined hands with me, but it was easy to make him do that by making Housen out as our common enemy. I got inside the pockets of Tsubaki and Utomiya, let a plan that would never work develop and checked the cards on Ayanokouji's hands. Because of that, I saw that he was linked with the leader of 2-A, Sakayanagi."

"Ah~, I think she visited me. Arisu-senpai right."

"She might interfere in my fight with Ayanokouji from here. I need to think of a way to deal with her."

"Yes yes. Just do as you please."

Amasawa had gotten tired of seeing Yagami talk for long. She sighed in boredom.

When he's in a good mood, if you leave him be Yagami would talk with himself indefinitely as he was doing now.

He bore the risk of having his true identity found out. He was enjoying this situation more than anyone.

"Are you done briefing me? Can I go now?"

"Before that, the reason I called you out was because I wanted to confirm your thoughts, Ichika."

"Hm~, thoughts?"

Yagami showed a childlike smile and captured both of Amasawa's forearms in an instant.

"!?"

Amasawa had been keeping her guard up so that she would definitely be able to dodge. She hadn't let it down, but she wasn't able to react.

"Utomiya or me? Everyone will know not too long from now. It will begin from there."

"...You mean you'll get that serious fight you've been wishing for?"

"As long as we both recognize the other as an enemy, I will fight him with my real strength."

"Don't be indirect. What if you settle it with your fists like men? Your martial skill rivals even Ayanokouji's."

"I won't use violence apart from the bare minimum."

"Well said."

She wasn't used to having the power in her arms held down. Even Amasawa wasn't able to break free.

Even if she had tried a different approach as long as she wasn't at her full strength it wouldn't even be a fight.

"Can you not understand that the reason I'm doing this is because it is the bare minimum?"

Amasawa replied with a laugh, but she was imagining what would happen from now, numerous times inside her head.

But no matter how many repetitions she did, she couldn't discover a pattern that would allow her to break through this situation.

"The reason I called you here today was actually because I thought I'd permanently incapacitate you. No matter how you choose to struggle from now on, since you know me you'd be nothing but a nuisance. Have you noticed?"

"Ahaha~, that might not be funny."

As Yagami's face directly drew near to her, Amasawa started preparing herself emotiona-.

The pressure in his hands on her forearms disappeared, and she was released.

"Just kidding."

He laughed kindly as always and put his hand on the door behind Amasawa.

"What a mean joke-"

"Sorry sorry. But I really was thinking of crushing you today. But I stopped."

"Uwa, really?"

In reply to that reply Amasawa pulled out and bended away.

"Since I heard that you were punished by Shiba-sensei. Not hitting back was the right move."

"If you're driven away once, get twice as strong and come back. I've studied that since I was small. But is it really okay to let me go?"

"I know that you can stick to watching quietly. If you had made a complete judgement regarding Ayanokouji then you would have ended this."

"The Senpai I yearn for and my friendly colleague are hard to weigh against each other you see."

"Don't worry. The battle in which we have to win against Ayanokouji is in the mind. He won't use violence against me. It's either he is expelled or I am."

As he said that, Yagami opened the door and allowed Amasawa to leave like a gentleman.