4 Chapter 4.2: Epilogue 2

"And with the next meeting, the exam will be over. How are things on your side, Ayanokouji-kun?".

I am having my last meeting with Horikita. The world outside has already been enveloped by darkness. The records of our conversation remain in the chatlog. To avoid that, we are currently meeting face-to-face.

"No particular change on my side. It looks like the "target" will be able to safely escape. How about you?" I asked her.

I had thought I couldn't expect much from Horikita, but...

"I will win" she briefly replied like that.

"So you've found the "target" then?" I asked. "I don't know who's listening in on us where so I cannot tell you the details yet, but, I won't mind if you believe in me. Everything will go well" Horikita replied to me. From Hirata I've already heard that the (Dragon) group's "target" is Kushida. Of course, I'm sure Ryuuen and Kanzaki have already done everything in their power to figure her out. But it looks like Horikita has successfully navigated the way to safety and survived it.

If she's this confident, I'm sure there's not much to worry about. We'll just have to wait for 500,000 points to roll in later on. It could even be described as a solid victory for us in that case. "Did you perhaps want to consult me?" she asks.

"There's no need for that. You make your move however you like" I told her. Even if she told me about the (Dragon) group, it's not like I can do much to help her anyways. "So, you said you needed to talk to me about something, what is it? I would like to avoid careless contact if possible" Horikita tells me.

Perhaps she's wary of the existence of Ryuuen who has been stalking Horikita...perhaps. I don't feel any kindness from her attitude, but it would be troublesome for me even if Horikita suddenly takes a kind attitude towards me.

"You can't afford to be terrified by Ryuuen's gaze forever you know" I told Horikita. "Judging from that tone, can I assume you have a plan?" she asks me.

But it looks like she wasn't expecting much from me, since she seemed surprise when I nodded in response to that. "I've pulled Hirata over to our side. I believe I can build a cooperative relationship with him in the future" I told Horikita.

"I don't really want any of that" she replies. "That's fine. I'm not asking you to get involved with Hirata personally. I will handle the talk with Hirata so just match my pace" I said. "...I don't like this. I don't like you moving around like that behind my back" Horikita told me.

I thought she'd say something like this.

"Then show your face when we discuss things then. Even if you can't force yourself to say something, you can keep up with the discussion so there's no problem there right?" I asked her.

"I....suppose so".

It still seemed as though she were dissatisfied, but if I give Horikita the option of participating or not participating, she can't refuse. Also, the existence of Hirata is a boon for the class, and after seeing his leadership on the uninhabited island, Horikita will surely understand that too. "Including Hirata too, there's a person I'd like to introduce you to. Please free up some time before the end of the exam" I told her.

"I still don't like it. Don't include more people than needed" she replies. "Please consider it a consequence of you standing on the front lines. Besides, that person will surely be useful to us" I told her. "I think I can more or less understand what's going on...but fine. Let's meet here right after the exam ends then" Horikita replied to me. After exchanging that promise, I look at the time on my phone. The last discussion will take place in 30 minutes.

"In this exam, I wonder how many groups will be decided by traitors?" Horikita said. "I wonder. I was surprised that the (Cow) group's exam suddenly ended, but I doubt something like that will be repeated. I think the likeliest outcomes will be the "target" escaping with the time of the exam running out" I replied. "I suppose so. I think that too".

And only for a moment, Horikita averted her eyes. That's an unconscious gesture humans make when they are concerned about something. "What's wrong?" I asked her. "Nothing. It's just, I just sensed something wrong with the way this exam developed. But there shouldn't have been any errors. I definitely shouldn't lose" she told me. It seems some of the anxieties she'd been storing up in her slightly leaked out. Even if I offered words of encouragement, I'm sure she'll see it as unnecessary trouble. So I decided to simply keep quiet.