Meanwhile—
In the student cafeteria, Suzune Horikita followed Kiyotaka Ayanokōji's lead and found an upperclassman eating a wild vegetable set meal.
"Ayanokōji-kun, have you not done any investigation these past two days?"
"Hmm..."
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji hummed in response, not denying that he had been slacking off for the past two days, and spoke in a calm tone:
"The school rules are common knowledge among the upperclassmen. That senpai is eating the free food provided by the cafeteria. If you can offer him a suitable price, I imagine he won't be stingy about telling you what he knows."
Hearing this, Suzune Horikita shot him a sideways glance, picked up her tray, and led Ayanokōji to a seat in front of the senpai.
After some haggling, the two parties finally settled on a price of fifty thousand points.
Upon receiving the points, the unnamed senpai said the following: "The ongoing Behavioral Standards Exam is actually an assessment of student discipline. As for the significance of reaching Class A—this school divides classes based on individual ability. Class A is the best, and Class D is the worst..."
Using that as a starting point, the senpai explained all the school rules in one go, then took his tray to the counter to get more food, leaving Horikita and Ayanokōji where they were.
Ayanokōji picked up a piece of fried shrimp. "You don't seem surprised."
Suzune Horikita: "I had already figured out the gist of it from the conversations of those people in Class C. I just needed a detailed confirmation. In the end, all you did was find someone for me."
"My apologies."
Watching the seemingly calm Horikita, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji offered a completely insincere apology.
Humans are creatures adept at making excuses for themselves, and they only accept the truths they want to believe. Even after I confirmed it, you'd probably just go and confirm it again yourself, wouldn't you.
Have you faced reality now, Horikita?
For no particular reason, Ayanokōji thought of the girl he had met in the library—if a "friend" were like her, this whole roundabout process would likely be unnecessary.
Time skips to after school.
In the Class D classroom, amidst the chaotic din, Ayanokōji looked at the ice-cold Horikita and spoke up: "Is this really okay? Not telling them."
"I have no intention of doing something so pointless."
Suzune Horikita said coldly, looking at a reply in her inbox from the contact labeled "Brother," then stood up and walked out of the classroom.
For the past two days, the experience in the library had been constantly replaying in her mind, keeping her up at night. By now, Suzune Horikita had already formulated her own plan.
Before that, she needed to find time to see her older brother. At the very least, she had to ask if he was truly facing difficulties in the student council.
Watching Horikita walk away, Ayanokōji glanced at the noisy crowd in the classroom and sidled up to a group of boys. "Yamauchi, what are you guys talking about?"
"Ayanokōji, come check out this game I just bought. Last night, we..."
"..."
The "friend" game of a pseudo-human creature is best left unmentioned.
Meanwhile—
In the library, "Hiyori Shiina" sat at a long table, holding a game console in her hands. Her fair, slender fingers pressed the keys as she stared at the screen with complete concentration.
"Mr. Ghost, a path just opened up."
"Where?"
"Bottom left of the screen. Pan the camera a bit more to the left."
From a peculiar first-person perspective, Hiyori directed Symon, immersing her mind in a field she had never touched before.
The tea ceremony club didn't have activities every day.
Leisure time in the library could be shared.
Through the silent, mutual understanding between two equally gentle souls, the daily life of the individual known as "Hiyori Shiina" gradually began to take on a different color.
If one had to describe their current relationship, it would be a transition from vassal to friend.
And just as the two were immersed in this relaxed atmosphere.
Thump, thump, thump.
A silver-haired girl wearing a round hat, with a frail body, tapped her cane as she sat down across the long table.
Gazing at the girl who had immersed her body and soul in the "tool for imbeciles," completely oblivious to her surroundings, and even to her arrival, Arisu Sakayanagi couldn't help but turn her head, her bright violet eyes looking at Kamuro, who stood behind her.
Sakayanagi, skeptically: Are you sure it's her?
Kamuro nodded: Yes, that's her.
Sakayanagi, with a cold stare: What happened to the literary girl you told me about?
Kamuro rolled her eyes: You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?
The conversation between "master and servant" required no words. After a moment of exchanging glances, Sakayanagi finally confirmed that she had not found the wrong person.
Listening to the faint button-pressing sounds that occasionally reached her ears, Arisu Sakayanagi, with a hint of confusion, turned back to scrutinize the girl before her:
Her silver-blue hair was meticulously combed, the collar button of her school uniform was fastened impeccably, her skin was fair and delicate, her fingers long and slender, her features refined and gentle. The corners of her eyes and lips were slightly curved, unable to hide the warmth and amusement in her gaze.
—She's very happy right now; it's best not to disturb her.
This was Arisu Sakayanagi's first thought after her observation. Her second thought was:
How can you be making that face!!!
Why are you making that face!!!
After hearing all of Kamuro's reports on Hiyori Shiina, she had already conducted a personality analysis of her.
The conclusion she reached was: If no one comes to keep her here, this person is going to leave.
And so, Arisu Sakayanagi had rushed to the library.
But she never expected that this person was actually living a happier life at school than she was!
Is this right?
Does this even make sense?
____
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