7 Chapter 4.2: Time for Settlement (2)

There's barely anyone left inside the school building thirty minutes after our homeroom ended given that our winter vacation's just begun. Just like they did during our summer vacation, all the students left straight away.

Barely anyone noticed us since they were all busy leaving.

"So.....where are we going? Just tell us what we're going to do already".

I didn't speak a word of our current plan to anyone, including Ibuki. Ibuki and the others only know that I had instructed Ishizaki's group to keep an eye on Miyake and his ilk.

That's why they had no idea why exactly I approached Kouenji. The reason I kept my silence on this is because I wanted to avoid spies within Class C getting involved like Manabe and her group did.

There's no doubt that person's also doing everything they can to keep their identity hidden. And so I kept quiet about my actual plan in order to corner X with certainty.

"Are you curious, Ibuki?".

"You're always dragging me around. And I'm always on edge because of your reckless actions".

Ishizaki also followed suit and approached me. Perhaps he's also curious about my true intentions.

"You remember what I told you about Karuizawa, right? She's the woman who started the chain of events leading up to Manabe and her group becoming spies".

"You're talking about that noisy woman from Class D, right? I know that much, at least".

Since Ibuki infiltrated Class D during the island exam, she probably knows best.

"I'm calling Karuizawa out to the rooftop today. I got Karuizawa's mail address from a woman who exchanged numbers with her. Of course, I made sure she knew I'm the one who sent her that mail".

A woman who exchanged numbers with her.....I didn't go as far as to say that woman's name. Because I decided there's still no need for me to tell anyone about 'Kushida'.

"Huh? Rooftop? There's no way Karuizawa would come if you're the one calling".

"She will definitely come. If she doesn't, I told her I'd expose her past".

If the pathetic fact that she got bullied in the past were to come to light, it'll cause a huge ruckus. If she understands that this could put her current social status at risk, then she has no choice but to accept the danger and come anyways.

"Even if Karuizawa comes, do you think she'll tell you X's identity?".

"I suppose she wouldn't do so normally".

X surely promised to protect Karuizawa from her enemies, including Manabe and her group.

"I sent a mail to X too. I told them that I'd call Karuizawa out today and drag their identity out of her. That I'd use any means available to do that. By doing that, I'm not only threatening Karuizawa but also X at the same time".

"But...that mail threat you sent reached Karuizawa, right? What are you going to do if she just reports that to the school? X may suggest she do just that".

Are you thinking that far ahead? Ibuki glared at me as though trying to provoke me with that.

"She won't do it. If she does it, then all I have to do is reveal Karuizawa's past. No matter what she chooses to do, Karuizawa has no way of turning the tables on us".

The only countermeasure they can take is for either Karuizawa or X to directly confront me and persuade me to stop.

"The worst case scenario would be X showing up instead of Karuizawa. But that's also exciting in and of itself. To see what Karuizawa will do".

"I don't think the risk is worth it though......".

"No such thing. Destroying Karuizawa means destroying one of X's pawns. Because it looks like he's been putting Karuizawa to good use in his crafty plans".

"How can you tell? I get it that X threatened Manabe and her group to protect Karuizawa but...".

Even I only realized that Karuizawa's a pawn not too long ago. I only got to that conclusion because I realized how baffling certain aspects of the Paper Shuffle were.

"Kuku. Anyways, look forward to it. X aside, you'll definitely get to see Karuizawa terrified at the prospect of her past being revealed".

"If Karuizawa does show up on the rooftop like you said...what exactly are we going to do to her? Like I said earlier, what if we can't drag X's identity out of her?".

Both Ibuki and Ishizaki seem to be worried about that but...

"According to Manabe and her group, Karuizawa got bullied rather severely in the past. People who have suffered severe trauma tend to lose all grip on their rationality when placed again in a similar situation. In that case, why don't we just reproduce that sort of scenario for her? Let's go all out and make her feel welcome. And we'll keep pressuring her until she gives us X's name".

"No way...are we actually going to do something to Karuizawa? This is insane".

"This is too much, Ryuuen-san. We already got into trouble during the case with Sudou so if we gang up to bully a girl...I mean, there are cameras on the rooftop and all!".

"I am fully aware of that. Which is why I've thought of a countermeasure for that".

I climbed the stairs leading up to the rooftop. Halfway through that, I looked back at Ibuki and Ishizaki who were a few steps behind me.

"Feel free to run if you're against it".

"I-I won't run. I'll follow you, Ryuuen-san".

"What about you, Ibuki?".

"I'll go along with your strategy from this point onwards. But if I ever feel it's getting dangerous, I'll step down".

After all, she's also been curious about X for a while now too. I had Ibuki and Ishizaki stand by at the door leading to the rooftop and took the bag from Ishizaki. I retrieved the tools I needed from inside the bag and handed it back to Ishizaki.

"This is.....!?".

"Just wait".

I opened the door to the rooftop.

There aren't that many schools where the rooftop is accessible all year round but there's a reason for that here. Not only is there proper fencing installed here but there are also surveillance cameras set up. If anyone engages in problematic behavior here, it'll definitely be recorded.

Of course, students are keenly aware of this which is why they behave themselves on the rooftop. However, every year this rooftop fails to become a popular attraction. This school has its own cafes and malls as well as a variety of other popular attractions.

I'm pretty much the only one who'd go out of their way to come here. But there's a limit to the number of places where they can set up cameras. Above the door leading to the rooftop. That's about it.

Because there aren't many blind spots on the rooftop, one's more than enough. But this means if that camera were to stop functioning, we'd be free of any surveillance.

I stood directly underneath the surveillance camera and looked straight into the lens of the camera. I then pointed a black spray can I had prepared beforehand at the surveillance camera and shot the spray at it.

The camera on the rooftop is the same type of camera as the ones inside the school building. A vandal dome camera. A resilient polycarbonate lens cover and a steel body will protect it against acts of violence.

But violence isn't the only way to disable a security camera. One spray can is more than enough.

The spray will adhere to the surface of the camera and obscure its field of vision. No matter how shock resistant the camera may be, you still won't be able to see anything through it.

"Now there's nothing watching us".

I had conducted research in advance regarding what sort of monitoring system that school has set up.

Out of the hundreds of cameras installed inside the school, only a few of those installed in vital locations display footage in real time. There's no way they could possibly wise up to this abnormal situation right away.

I had already painted over a surveillance camera somewhere else a while ago and reported it to Sakagami myself and got penalized for it.

As a result, I had points deducted to pay for the cost of cleaning the camera and received a warning. I had asked then whether or not the footage is constantly being observed.

Especially on a day like this where all the students have pretty much left. The school is bound to let its guard down.

"Albert. You stand by a bit below us. Let Karuizawa pass when she comes. And if anyone unexpected...like teachers come, then call my phone right away".

Albert nodded silently and went down the stairs.

I had him stand guard just in case so I'd be able to respond to any unforeseen developments.

"So you painted over the cameras...isn't that grounds for punishment?".

"Just a prank. No big deal".

"I just hope Karuizawa will come like you said she would".

"She will come. It's a matter of life or death for her. She definitely won't leave it to chance".

Now we just have to wait until it's time.

Part 3

Around 2 PM. A little before the appointed time, the door to the rooftop opened and a lone student showed up. Our leading actress for the day showed up, her body stiff after bathing in the cold air.

"Kuku. I knew you'd come, Karuizawa".

I turned off my phone and put it back inside my pocket. Ibuki and Ishizaki, looking slightly nervous, turned to face Karuizawa.

"...the mail you sent me this morning. What do you mean by that?".

"Surely there's no need to even ask at this point. It's precisely because you understood what it means that you came here".

This is what was in the mail I sent to Karuizawa.

'Manabe and her group told me all about your past. Come alone to the rooftop after school. If you tell anyone about this then the whole school will know about your past by tomorrow'.

Mentioning Manabe and her group ensured Karuizawa would understand the meaning behind this. She has no other choice but to understand.

"I assume you kept quiet about this as promised? No, you had no other choice but to keep quiet. After all, you can't afford to let anyone know about your past".

She may have panicked and informed X of her predicament since they'd already know of her past but I couldn't care less about that. Like I told Ibuki and Ishizaki earlier, I've already sent X a mail.

That today I'll be delivering Karuizawa's sentence. And that I'd uncover their identity. So it makes no difference whether or not Karuizawa asked them for help.

"But to think you actually came alone".

"You told me to come alone, didn't you.....?".

"Kuku. I suppose I did".

Then again, there's no way that person would've shown up given that they went to such lengths to hide their identity. And Karuizawa cannot ask anyone other than X for help.

Because if she does, her past would be revealed. And the same applies for X, who's also kept their identity secret. In other words, their options are limited.

"Look, I don't know what this is all about.....but it's cold so I want to wrap this up quickly".

Karuizawa rubs her hands together. But there's no point in pretending like she doesn't know what the situation is.

"Then why did you come here? You could've just ignored me".

"That's---because I didn't want unfounded rumors to start spreading around".

She's doing her best to appear calm but it's obvious she's just bluffing.

"Unfounded rumors? Everyone here knows about it though? That before your high school days, you used to be the victim of bullying".

".......".

Even if she tries to hide it, a change in her behavior will occur when presented with the truth.

"It was a stroke of misfortune that Manabe and her group found out about it. If you want to blame someone, then blame yourself for failing to conduct yourself properly".

"...what are you after? Are you saying you stand to gain something from threatening me?".

"What will you do if I told you I was just killing time?".

Even though I have leverage over her, Karuizawa's already lost any leverage she had.

"If you do anything to me.....I'll immediately report it to the school".

"Come now, you came here alone because that's not an option, right? Without asking anyone for help".

"...Ryuuen, is it really okay to act that arrogant? She may actually have a trick up her sleeve".

Ibuki seems to suspect something's going on behind the scenes after she showed up here alone.

"Karuizawa can't do anything but rely on X. No need to be that cautious. Even if she records her conversation with me or films it, she can't use it as her trump card. Because more than anything, she fears getting her past revealed. As long as we hold onto that, she cannot resist us at all".

"But---".

"That's enough, just keep quiet".

I already know what Ibuki's trying to say. Manabe and her group were threatened with evidence of their bullying of Karuizawa. They were forced to cease their bullying and give their word that they won't speak a word of it to anyone else. Then they were used. As though forced to strangle themselves, they were manipulated into leaking information on Class C. In other words, Ibuki's afraid that we may be threatened with evidence ourselves.

But that won't happen.

'The past in which Karuizawa was bullied'.

As long as you know how to use that weapon, there's nothing to fear. In this case, cornering us means also cornering Karuizawa. But it is a fact that there is danger in this.

A double-edged sword. If I just wanted to spread around Karuizawa's past, then there's no need to threaten her like this. By using the information I currently hold to stir things up, I will be able to obtain a certain degree of accomplishment. But if I reveal it, then that's it.

I won't be able to use this double-edged sword anymore. Karuizawa would be destroyed but I won't get to X. What I want is to drag the person behind Karuizawa out of hiding.

Since I've made my move today, I have to uncover X's identity here. In order to do that, I need to figure out just how deep the connection between Karuizawa and X runs.

"Let's stop beating around the bush. You want to be freed quickly right. Then tell me who's hiding behind you. If you do that, I'll keep quiet about your past".

"I don't know what you mean".

But Karuizawa's clearly more agitated than ever. Karuizawa also knows that I'm looking for that person lurking in Class D. Still, she probably didn't know that we've figured out her connection to that person.

"X saved you when you were being bullied by Manabe and her group, right?".

"H-Huh? That's not true".

"No point in hiding it now. I've got some evidence myself too".

"...evidence?".

Apparently, X has been keeping Karuizawa in the dark more than I had expected. Slowly, I'll pressure Karuizawa bit by bit while allowing no room for error.

"How do you think X was able to protect you from Manabe behind the scenes?".

"I don't know. I wasn't being bullied and even if you say stuff like X......".

"Ok, ok. If you won't admit it, I'll just go ahead and tell you my conclusion".

Because if I don't, Karuizawa doesn't seem like she'll admit to anything.

"X took advantage of Manabe's group's weakness. Telling them to behave themselves if they don't want the truth of their bullying to come to light. That's how they kept them quiet".

Karuizawa just glared at me without saying anything.

"Kuku, I see...so you do know how X shut down Manabe's group".

"I-I haven't even said anything".

"Not a word, no. But your eyes tell a different story".

I then continued.

"If that's all then that's to be expected. But X didn't stop there, they even made Manabe and her group betray me during the sports festival, you know? To turn spy for them and leak information. Of course, with the threat of having their bullying be exposed should they not".

"What are you saying? Seriously, I have no idea what you're going on about.....".

"You're lying though? Looks like you're already aware of what went down during the sports festival".

It can't be, but perhaps there's the possibility that Karuizawa herself is unaware of X's identity? If they always used a free address to contact her and issued orders to her like that then...

No, I don't imagine Karuizawa will obey the orders of someone who hides their face from her like that. If she really doesn't know, then it would've been better for Karuizawa to admit the truth to a certain degree then claim to have no knowledge of their identity.

If she's going to deny everything then that in itself would be strange unless there's a reason behind it.

"The only thing I want to know is the identity of the X who attacked me. I couldn't care less about your past. Don't you think the smart thing to do here is to give me their identity?".

"My answer's the same no matter what you ask me. I don't know anything. And it's seriously cold out here...".

She's wearing extremely light clothing. Perhaps because she doesn't intend on staying here for long.

"Of course, it must be cold. Don't you want to wrap things up here and go back already?".

"I have nothing to say to you".

"I see. If you're going to cover for X then there's no helping it. I assume this means you're fine with your past being revealed?".

"........".

Karuizawa's really stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I attack her, she has no choice but to keep quiet. No matter what she chooses to do, she'd end up making an enemy out of someone. You could go into depth regarding that but it's just a waste of time.

"No point in thinking it over. This isn't a situation you can think your way out of. It's already clear your options are limited. And the correct option to choose here is to give me that person's name. That's all there is to it".

By doing so, Karuizawa would be able to protect her secret at the very least. In this current situation, the only way she can save herself is to sacrifice X.

"...if, if there is actually someone behind me like you say, there's no guarantee that the name I tell you now is actually that person, right? Can you even confirm the truth?".

Ishizaki interjected without permission, maybe because he's also worried about that.

"There's no way we can confirm that, Ryuuen-san. It's just like Karuizawa said......".

Him interjecting now of all times will only result in giving Karuizawa a way out. I ordered Ishizaki to shut up with a look. Ishizaki, realizing he's getting in my way, shut his mouth with an apologetic look.

"What will you do if I chose to reveal your past after finding out you lied to me later?".

"That---".

"The only way to save yourself is to tell me everything".

I laughed, but Karuizawa looked at me with firm eyes and refuted that.

"I'm not stupid. It doesn't matter if it's a lie or the truth, you'll eventually threaten me again. I'd rather not be your tool each and every time you need something done".

"Kuku. I suppose so. There's no guarantee that I won't use you the way X used Manabe's group. But if so, what will you do?".

"I won't say there's someone behind me and I won't say there's no one either. I won't randomly give you someone's name either. In other words, I won't tell you anything".

Apparently Karuizawa's concluded that silence is the right answer. Not a bad option but hardly the best one.

"And if I told you I'll expose your past if you don't say anything?".

"You think there's someone behind me. But because you can't narrow down that person's identity, you chose to approach me instead. Then I doubt you'll be too keen to throw away that chance so easily".

"I see. If I revealed your past before I can draw the answer out of you, then there'd be no incentive for you to tell me anything. And my search for X may be delayed".

That's what it means, Karuizawa seemed to be saying as she averted her eyes.

"Personally, I don't have a problem with you not giving me X's identity. I can just take my time in that case. You failed to take into account that there's still plenty of opportunity in the future for me to narrow down their identity".

"Assuming an attack is launched against you in the future, that is. If they know you're onto them, surely they would take care to not let their identity slip, no?".

She's better than I expected. A quick-witted and sharp-tongued woman.

If X's train of thought runs similar to my own, I should assume they saved Karuizawa because they noticed her usefulness given her high social status within Class D. They're someone who wouldn't bat an eye at using others. In other words, they'd be fine even with tossing Karuizawa to the curb.

Of course there's no doubt that X is acting to elevate Class D but they may prioritize the safety of their identity above that.

If I just reveal the bullying problem, then there's the possibility that their identity would be concealed just like Karuizawa said. On the off chance that X manages to conceal their identity any more than this, it would mean my fun would be significantly cut short, huh?

"Not only did you think up a good self-defense measure but you also made it this far on your own, hmm?".

I can't imagine Karuizawa came here without having thought anything through. There's the possibility that she may have received advice from X but.....that possibility's a faint one.

"Get it now? Don't you think it's best if you just let me go back?".

I checked my phone's screen. But there's no contact from anyone. Did the mail I sent to X misfire? Of course, I do know that it won't be this easy to smoke them out.

I suppose I'll take things to the next level while preparing to take a few risks.

"Basically, I just need to make you spit out X's name, right? In all likelihood, if you do know their identity, the best option for me would be to draw it out of you here".

It's your fault, X. This is the result of weighing your options of saving Karuizawa or hiding your identity on a scale.

"...if your threat's failed, how are you going to make me talk?".

"Isn't it obvious? Torture's the good old-fashioned way to make someone talk".

"Ryuuen-san, are you serious...?".

"Ibuki, hold Karuizawa down".

"Why me? You could just do it yourself, right?".

Ibuki, who isn't very keen on what we're going to be doing, disobeyed instructions.

"Do it".

"I won't be complicit in this. No matter how you look at it, this gamble's far too risky".

"That's lame, Ibuki. To back out after so many failures. The important thing is how you can win back our trust".

I grabbed Ibuki's arm and firmly tugged on it.

"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for everything. That's why you don't need to hold back. Do it".

"Tch......".

I once again issued orders to the rebellious Ibuki and had her carry them out. While clicking her tongue, Ibuki approached Karuizawa.

"W-What?".

"I've got my own problems here. Sorry".

Ibuki swiftly maneuvered behind Karuizawa and restrained both her hands.

"Ow!".

Karuizawa screamed. Despite her reluctance, Ibuki completely shut down any resistance from Karuizawa. Being restrained by someone with martial arts experience like Ibuki, there's nothing Karuizawa could do.

"Ishizaki, go fill the buckets with water. Let's start with two buckets. There should be no one using the toilet one floor beneath us right now. There are two buckets used for cleaning in the men's toilet".

"Ehh? Water? What are we going to use it for?".

"Are you going to disobey me too?".

"N-No, I'll go fetch some right away!".

Ishizaki panicked and passed by Ibuki despite looking like he's about to fall over.

"Let's chat a bit more until Ishizaki returns, shall we?".

"No! Let me go!".

Karuizawa thrashed around with all her strength but she couldn't break out of Ibuki's hold. The reason we're holding her isn't to prevent her from escaping, it's a way to amplify her fear of what's about to happen.

As a matter of fact, Karuizawa's desperately resisting and struggling to the very end, perhaps because she's realized what's about to happen to her.

"I'll seriously report you if you so much as lay one finger on me!".

"Kukuku. You're quite the fierce one, despite coming all the way here. Do you think X will protect you this time around as well?".

No matter how many times I ask her, she gives me the same answer. She stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the existence of that person.

"This is just my onesided hypothesis but perhaps the X lurking in the shadows of Class D promised to protect you in case of an emergency?".

Karuizawa's eyes gave it away. Despite her trying to hide it, it's not so easy to conceal.

"Because if that's not the case, then it doesn't add up. Your bullish personality would cause girls from other classes to dislike you as well so there's the possibility of you being targeted by girls other than Manabe's group".

Ibuki took her eyes off Karuizawa to look at me.

"You must have lived each and every day terrified of those who knew the truth. But until today, you've managed to avoid having anyone uncover the truth and you've come this far without having been bullied. Why is that? It can only be because of the person behind you always covering for you and saving you".

"And you're saying that's X?".

Ibuki asked me.

"For now---but, that wasn't always the case, was it? Because X should've only realized the truth when Manabe's group made contact with Karuizawa. I think.....you made Hirata your boyfriend in order to protect yourself, didn't you?".

Karuizawa widened her eyes.

"N-No.....".

"That's exactly it, isn't it? Don't underestimate me too much, Karuizawa".

I looked into her eyes. And drew out the darkness lurking deep inside Karuizawa.

Surely X did the same thing as well.

"Ahh.......!?".

She's finally started showing me her cute side.

"...Ryuuen, how do you know all that?".

Karuizawa isn't the only one surprised by my words. Ibuki also couldn't resist cutting in to inquire about that mystery.

"It comes with experience. I've seen a ton of rotten people throughout my life after all".

"Huff, huff. S-Sorry to keep you waiting".

Ishizaki, who panickedly ran to fetch some water, came back a few minutes later. Buckets that were 80% filled with water. Seeing that, Ibuki once again hit me with a question.

"You said there are two buckets, didn't you? How did you know that?".

"You guys don't even know how many surveillance cameras are installed throughout this school, do you?".

"Huh? There's no way we'd know that".

"You won't know if you don't look into it. But if you've done your research, you'll be able to understand anything your eyes fall on".

Bit by bit every day, I looked into the locations of the surveillance cameras set up inside the school. As a result, I also came to know that there are two buckets kept in reserve inside the toilet.

"One of the measures I took to confirm that was having Ishizaki and the others attack Sudou. Funnily though, there seems to have been a witness from Class D on the scene though".

Ishizaki's face turned apologetic.

If there were no witnesses, Class C would've stood to gain more from that incident.

"I told you, didn't I, Ishizaki? To never admit you're wrong, no matter what".

"Y-Yes.....I just felt timid for a moment there back then and.....".

But as a result, Ishizaki and the others were tricked by the fake surveillance camera and ended up confessing.

"At first glance, this school appears to operate with discipline. But that's not quite the truth. Depending on how you handle it, use of force may be permitted too".

There are clues scattered all throughout the average day hinting at that.

"You guys probably won't get it but the smart ones are constantly engaging in trial-and-error".

The first thing I did after enrolling was to look into the 'rules' of this mysterious school and how to 'beat' them.

One more thing I did after enrolling here besides comprehending the system was to measure the usefulness of private points.

"For instance, have you ever felt the setup of the exams were strange? Regardless of whether it's the island exam or the shipboard exam or the Paper Shuffle. If you go over it with the senior student, you'd be able to uncover what it's all about. At first glance, you'd think that. But even if you ask them, there's not a single student capable of answering that satisfactorily. Why do you think that is?".

"...each year, the exams are different so there's the possibility that the rules are different".

"That's right. It's not like all the exams are the same every year. But strictly speaking, it's that the rules for each 'school year' are different".

"What do you mean, Ryuuen-san?".

If you can beat the exam by simply checking with your seniors, then it fails to qualify as an exam at all. It would just turn into a stupid race to see who can flatter the senior students more.

To prevent that from happening, you need to put solid rules in place.

"What if a rule like '2nd years and above will be expelled immediately if they leak exam conents' were to be put into effect?".

Regardless of whether exam contents are the same or not, what would happen if shackles like that were to be prepared?

"That would mean---they'd never talk".

"That's right. Even if their underclassmen asked them, they wouldn't be able to answer. There's no way those guys who fought for a whole year while risking expulsion would run the risk of expulsion from a careless remark they made. As a matter of fact, I tried negotiating with a few 2nd year Class D students by offering them private points but I've never once succeeded. It's proof that talking carries considerable risk in and of itself".

"But...you might be right. Komimya and Kondou also said so a while back. Even when they tried getting hints from their seniors, they never got anything out of them. On the contrary, it almost felt like they shouldn't even ask".

It's precisely because everyone has thought of it that it feels like it's forbidden territory. Strictly speaking, there's the possibility that there even more detailed rules in place but we'll eventually understand.

"Just like this, I've always tiptoed the borderline of legality".

The surveillance cameras, bribing the senior students, making a backroom deal with Class A. I've mapped out in detail the line between what I can do and what I cannot do.

"Today, what we're about to do to Karuizawa is also one of those experiments".

Karuizawa's begun trembling from the cold.

"Trauma's better evoked through experiencing it rather than drawing it out through words".

According to the testimonies of Manabe's group, even the fierce Karuizawa will quiet down immediately. I signalled Ishizaki with my eyes. Ishizaki should have understood what I wanted him to do with just that alone.

Ibuki pushed Karuizawa forward and then distanced herself. And in accordance with my order, Ishizaki dumped water from the bucket on Karuizawa's head.

"!?".

Underneath the cold winter sky, the chill of the water would reach even the core of her heart.

Karuizawa collapsed on the spot from the overwhelming shock and trembled.

She hugged herself with both her arms. Her earlier fierceness has disappeared entirely after a bucket of water.

"Does this make you remember? The baptism you received at your previous school, that is".

"N-No.......!".

She covered her ears.

Almost like a little girl scared of a ghost, she just kept trembling.

"I won't settle for this. I'm going to break you thoroughly".

I took out my phone and started recording, then grabbed Karuizawa's bangs and lifted them up. I noticed a liquid leaking out of her eyes. Right now, Karuizawa's probably internally reliving the bullying of her past.

"This is footage of your bullying. If you won't tell me anything then I'm going to spread it around the school".

That's a lie, of course, but Karuizawa is no longer capable of forming rational thoughts.

"Go on, cry. Scream. Show me how you beg for forgiveness".

"No, no!!!".

There's nothing quite like digging up deeply carved wounds.

"I can't watch this...I shouldn't have helped you.....".

Ibuki averted her eyes as though to escape.

"Bullying the weak is quite fun though? Nothing like it to stir up your heart".

I recalled a bunch of people who attacked me long ago.

There was this one guy who cried like a baby when their arrogance came back to bite them. But in Karuizawa's case, things are a bit different.

"Despite the thorough bullying you received, you boldly stood out in Class D. Hats off to you for that".

In spite of her weakness, she stood out on her own to establish a new persona for herself. She maintained her position this far by using Hirata and through receiving X's protection.

"It's easier said that done, you know".

If a victim of bullying is broken into servility once, the roots of that run deep enough that it can be repeated.

It can't be helped because that's the sort of lesson the bullying drills into you.

"In a way, you may just be a woman stouthearted enough to not lose to me".

I crouched down and continued as though sneering at the trembling Karuizawa.

"But you see, you can't change human nature that easily. It doesn't change. You're the sort of person conditioned to receive bullying, not dish out bullying. Remember that well".

I picked up the other bucket near Ishizaki's feet and this time, I dumped it on Karuizawa.

"!?".

Silently screaming, Karuizawa curled up to the best of her ability.

"Ishizaki. Go fetch me some more".

"Y-Yes".

He picked up the two buckets scattered on the floor and once again, Ishizaki descended from the rooftop.

"Who's the one protecting you by shutting down Manabe's group?".

"There's no such person.....! No such person, no such person, no such person!".

Shaking her head, she denied it over and over as though running away.

"Kuku. So you're still hiding it. You really are a stouthearted one. No, perhaps you're just used to the bullying? For you, this might not even register as bullying".

I grabbed Karuizawa's arm and forcibly pulled her up.

"...I can't watch this".

"This is where the fun starts, you know?".

"This is just utterly disgusting".

Ibuki did not leave but rather, she only leaned on the door to the rooftop while refusing to participate in the bullying.

"I'll leave after I confirm X's identity".

"That's just fine".

I'm not doing this to entertain the lot of you.

I'm breaking Karuizawa for my own pleasure.

Part 4

It chilled me down to my core.

The chill of the water dripping from my hair. They've dumped water on me four times now. Not only my uniform but even my underwear are soaking wet now. But it's not the fact that my body's trembling from the cold that terrifies me.

It's the cold that grips my heart.

A darkness deep and dark enough to make you resent the world reared its head.

Why am I being bullied? Those feelings gradually changed.

Why am I even alive?

What did I do wrong?

I began to blame myself. My heart that's frozen over started eating away at my body.

The scars that run deep began to ache again.

"Hey, save yourself already, Karuizawa. There's no need to suffer any more than this".

In front of me, Ryuuen laughed while pressuring me for a confession.

But that's a dead end road. I'm no longer able to answer anything. If I tell him about Kiyotaka, I may be saved temporarily. But that doesn't mean I've escaped for good.

There's no guarantee that Ryuuen won't simply use the same threat on me again. He may show up again and order me to sell out Class D. It's the worst case scenario you often see in dramas.

There's only misery at the end of the road for people who continue to betray others.

If so, I'll put my faith in Kiyotaka's words, his promise that he'd protect me.

It...is the last line of defense protecting me from being swallowed up by the darkness.

"I know what you're thinking. If you reveal X's identity here, you'll lose even the possibility that they'd keep protecting you. A total loss of hope".

I could hear the sound of my teeth chattering from the cold and the fear. I desperately pawed at the ground to stop it but my heart's long since stopped listening.

A horrific memory came to mind.

The past and the present overlapped.

"Do you want to die embracing hope? To go back to how things were, are you really fine with that?".

His words relentlessly assaulted me.

"X isn't the one who's going to save you. I can save you if you spit the name out here".

I'm scared.

"But if you're going to oppose me, I have no other choice but to attack your weakness".

Save me.

"I'm going to make a list of all the things about you and spread it around the school".

I'm scared.

"When that happens, will you still be able to keep your cool and maintain your current position in class?".

Save me.

"No, there's no way that'd happen. You'll just go back to those days. Back to the pathetic you who suffered bullying. Back to the original you".

The bullying I received in the past continously replayed itself in my head without letting up.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no......".

I don't want to go back to that dark, miserable world where I wished for death.

"Then end it already. End it and protect yourself".

"Please forgive me, pleaseforgiveme......!".

My pride's already been torn to shreds.

No, that's not true. I had only stuck it back together with cellophane tape. My pride had already been torn apart in the first place.

The Karuizawa Kei who had been holding on, died. That fun school life crumbled away.

"I'm not as merciful as Manabe and her group were. We know your secret. Even if you get me expelled, it's not just one or two people who know the truth. The rumors will spread immediately. When that happens, even your subservient classmates may rise up to bully you".

"No, no, no......".

"Then take a trip down memory lane. Remember how painful it's going to be to go back to those days".

---there's no way I wouldn't end up remembering

For a moment, a pure white world spread through my mind.

And then the darkness came.

Back during middle school, I ended up creating my own hell from something so trivial. I was always the headstrong, competitive type so I ended up making enemies out of similar girls.

Every day after that was the furthest you could get from a happy school life.

They scribbled on my textbooks and stole my notes. That's still cute, though. As though it were the obvious thing to do, they dumped water on me while I used the toilet more than a few times.

They punched me and kicked me and filmed it so they can spread it around the class for laughs.

They put thumbtacks in my shoes and animal corpses on my desk. I remember it all. They even once pulled my skirt down in front of the class.

After swimming class, they'd hide my underwear and sometimes even my uniform.

They also made me confess to boys I don't even like.

There were times when they'd make me pick up garbage on the ground with my mouth and eat it. At times, I was made to lick shoes.

I endured humiliation after humiliation.

Yes, that's right.

I ended up recalling it.

At a time like this, the last measure humans take in self-defense is to accept it all.

Accept the reality that I am being bullied by Ryuuen and his group.

If I do that, it'll be easier.

Ahh, I wonder if I'm going back to those days. I know that if that happens, my heart surely won't be able to take it. The ones who were kind to me, the ones who befriended me, they'd end up changing.

I won't be able to endure those cruel days again. The only thing the school that abandoned me did for me was to inform me about this school.

They offered me salvation in the form of having all the students who know about me disappear.

If they're gone, then I'll-----

I looked up at the sky.

The tears I'd been holding back overflowed and fell.

Why do I have to go through this?

..............

---I don't want to.

Those feelings welled up inside me.

I just accepted it, that I don't want to go back to those days.

According to Ryuuen, he just wants to find the person he's been looking for.

In other words, if I give him Kiyotaka's name, I'll be free.

But there's no guarantee that he still won't reveal my past anyways.

They may all know already the next day.

If that happens, the result's still the same.

I'd not only lose Kiyotaka's trust but also all my friends.

But---

Salvation is still within reach.

If I give him the name, putting an end to this suffering may be possible.

It can't be helped, can it?

I will save you.

Kiyotaka, who promised me that, didn't come racing to save me.

Even if I continue to believe in him and wait for him, this situation won't change one bit.

Did he not notice the mail I sent him?

But I also gave him a signal through making eye contact.

And our eyes certainly met and he acknowledged me.

Telling me that he'd protect me so I can relax. Or so I thought. Am I just deluding myself? I don't know anymore.

There's no way I can confirm that now. The relationship Kiyotaka and I share is just too shallow.

He cut me off without even a guarantee that Manabe and her group won't try anything. Using a selfish reason like 'it's no longer necessary for him to take the stage'.

I was only an afterthought.

Was I betrayed? Did he abandon me?

"Albert, did anyone show up?.....I see, I'll call again".

In front of me, Ryuuen silently sighed.

"You probably expected something but it doesn't look like anyone's coming for you".

Ahh, so I was abandoned after all. Well, what else am I supposed to do if not believe? Kiyotaka told me he'd save me.

He did protect me from Manabe's group.

"You seem like you trust X quite a fair bit, Karuizawa".

Ryuuen sighed as though in exasperation.

"You were deceived".

"That's not......".

"It's the truth. I'll tell you the truth about the shipboard exam that X never told you".

"Truth......?".

Somewhere along the way, Ryuuen had stopped smiling.

"Manabe wanted to bully you as payback for Morofuji but she couldn't find an opening to do so. Even if she invites you over to an isolated spot, it's not like you'd just obey her. By the way, for some reason you went below deck alone. Why is that?".

"That's......".

That's because Yousuke-kun asked me to go there. Back then, I was emotionally unstable and had no choice but to rely on Yousuke-kun, the person I was parasitizing.

That's why I went there...and Manabe's group also came there by coincidence......

"Do you really think it was just a coincidence?".

Once again, Ryuuen saw through me.

"There's no way they could follow you around the clock on such a large ship. In that case, Manabe's group showing up there isn't a coincidence but an inevitability".

Does that mean Yousuke-kun lied to me? No...that's not it.

I understood right away that isn't the case.

But for a moment there, I tried to blame Yousuke-kun.

"You already get it, don't you? X made contact with Manabe and helped her lure you there by acting like someone who also hates Karuizawa and convincing her to team up. All I can say is that you're a fool for biting the bait. That's the truth".

I do remember how strange that incident was. Yousuke-kun, who asked me to go there, never showed up.

I understand now because I know Kiyotaka. He gave instructions to Yousuke-kun to isolate me......

"X deliberately set up your bullying to acquire evidence of that. Don't you think that's just inhuman?".

No, I don't want to believe that.

But what he's saying...isn't something so simple.

So Kiyotaka showing up there and saving me wasn't a coincidence?

"You weren't rescued. You were ensnared. How stupid, don't you think?".

I was deceived......?

"Look around you. Is X here right now? Are they saving you right now?".

Kiyotaka...has been deceiving me from the start?

"It's safe to assume that they cut their ties with you when their own identity was about to be exposed".

No, that can't be......

That just can't be......

I---wasn't saved. Even though I'm going through this much suffering...I ended up falling for Kiyotaka's trap and thought I might actually be saved. I was made to help him with a lot of stuff.

But at a crucial time like this, he abandoned me.

Because that would mean...

"You've realized it too, haven't you? It's all just you being maliciously 'bullied' again".

Darkness shrouded me.

In the end, I wasn't able to escape the Möbius loop of bullying.

"Well, there's still one way for you to save yourself".

The name.

To tell Ryuuen about Kiyotaka.

"That's right".

If I tell him the name, will this end.....?

"Yes. It will end".

As though reading my mind, Ryuuen laughed again.

"If you tell me the name, I promise to never get you involved again".

Ahh, so I will be saved.

I just have to say the words Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

I don't know whether I can trust him or not. But if he hears the words coming from the bottom of my heart, this man in front of me will surely understand.

That alone, I'm confident about.

Against my will, my lips started moving while still trembling.

The despair and rage at being betrayed and my heart wishing to be saved. But my voice is still not coming out.

I can't bring my voice out, not when it's this cold.

"Take it easy. Give me the name".

"---ta.....".

It's coming out.

I trembled and trembled and cowered in fear.

Then a word came out.

"Ta?".

Ryuuen is listening to me.

"Ta........ka.......".

I squeezed it out ever so slowly. I'll be free after this.

"One more time. Tell me, slowly, one more time".

Ryuuen's face drew close to me.

"No matter......".

Words are coming out. No, that's not it. From the very beginning, I had no intention of saying it from the very beginning.......

Because I'm---

"No matter how many times you ask me.....I will 'NEVER', 'EVER'......tell you".

".............".

And with that, Ryuuen's smile froze.

I felt like a ray of light had pierced through the cloudy skies.

A world that, in reality, hasn't changed one bit. And the conclusion I reached.

"Even if, starting tomorrow, I lose my place here at this school...even if I continue to suffer.....".

Something I need to put my faith in no matter what.

That's neither Ryuuen's words nor Kiyotaka's existence.

"I will never, ever give you the name......".

A warm light emanating from within my chest.

"You sure about that, Karuizawa?".

Yes.

I'm fine with this.

I may come to regret it.

But I'm fine with this.......!

"Even though you know X was just using you, why do you still cover for them?".

"I don't know......".

That's my line.

But---there is one thing I do know.

"Even I want to act cool until the very end......!".

My field of vision which had clouded up, cleared up for a moment.

"I see. That's a shame, Karuizawa. After today, you won't have a place in this school anymore. I personally don't want to do anything extreme either but I've got no choice. But, you are worthy of respect. Despite the trauma of your past, despite being betrayed by the only one you could rely on, you still didn't sell them out. I'll give you that".

This is fine.

I'm fine with this.

I repeatedly told myself that. I will break here though. But for some reason, I felt a little proud of myself.

That despite being betrayed, I didn't betray in turn and that it meant he would be safe.

If I could help him gain the peace he desires, then that's not so bad.

That's that then. Somehow, aren't I cool?

There never was anything interesting going on with my life but by cooperating with Kiyotaka, things got exciting and that's not so bad.

I had fun.

How should I put it, almost like the heroine supporting her hero from the shadows?

Although I didn't understand a lot of what he did, it was still somehow strangely fun.

Besides, no matter how it happened, it's still a fact that I was saved.

That's why I regret nothing.

I have no regrets.

But, you know? The truth is, deep down inside, I still held out hope that he might come and save me. Those fleeting feelings---also exist, I guess.

Ahh, I'm such a fool.

I was just dancing in the palm of his hand.

I guess I brought this on myself. I had Yousuke-kun protect me and then I had Kiyotaka protect me. I really am a woman incapable of doing anything on her own.

Underneath the cold winter sky.

I somehow ended up feeling comfortable.

Goodbye to the false 'me'.

Welcome back, the empty 'me' from the past.