11.1
Narrator: Sakura
The sunset sun painted the sky with orange and pink tones as I walked away from the place where I had been talking with Ayanokōji-san. My steps were slow, almost hesitant, as if my legs weren't completely sure where they should take me. I felt my heart beating strongly in my chest, a constant drumming that resonated in my ears and reminded me of the conversation I had just had.
"Arm yourself with courage."
Ayanokōji-san's words kept echoing in my mind like a persistent echo, bouncing over and over in my thoughts. They were simple, direct words, without adornments or unnecessary complexities. But precisely because of that they had so much weight. It hadn't been an elaborate motivational speech or a long sermon about the importance of self-confidence. Just three words. Three words that somehow contained a whole world of meaning.
It was easier said than done, of course. Much easier.
Ayanokōji-san made everything seem so simple, so natural, as if talking with people was something as basic as breathing. She could approach anyone without seeming nervous, without stuttering, without feeling that the whole world was judging her with every word that came out of her mouth. She could maintain fluid conversations, answer questions without getting stuck, even make subtle jokes that made others feel comfortable around her or at least not bothered by it.
I... I wasn't like that.
I was the girl who hid behind her bangs, who kept her gaze down to avoid eye contact, who responded with monosyllables when someone tried to talk to her. I was the girl who ate alone in the dining hall, who walked alone through the hallways, who sat alone in the back of the classroom hoping no one would notice her existence.
But I wanted to change. Desperately wanted to change.
I wanted to be stronger. I wanted to be able to talk with people without feeling my throat closing, without feeling my hands trembling, without feeling my mind going blank every time someone addressed me. I wanted to make real friends, not just acquaintances who greeted me out of courtesy or classmates who barely knew my name.
Matsushita-san had been kind to me. Very kind. More than I expected, honestly. When I had approached her, or rather when she had approached me, I had feared the worst. I had expected rejection, indifference, or worse yet, that false kindness that people use when they want to seem polite but really have no interest in you.
But Matsushita-san hadn't been like that. She had been genuinely kind, patient, understanding. She had listened when I spoke, had responded with real interest, had made the conversation flow naturally without making me feel pressured or uncomfortable. And that had given me a little hope. A small spark of hope that now burned gently in my chest.
Maybe... maybe I could make more friends if I tried hard enough. If I armed myself with courage, as Ayanokōji-san had said.
I walked aimlessly through the cruise ship for a few minutes, letting my feet take me through hallways I had barely explored before. The cruise ship was enormous, much larger than I had anticipated. There were so many places, so many corners, so many areas that most students didn't even know existed.
I needed to find a quiet place. A place where I could be alone for a moment, where I could calm down, where I could practice. Because if I was going to try to talk with more people, if I was going to try to make more friends, I had to prepare myself mentally first. I couldn't just throw myself in without any kind of preparation. That would be a disaster.
After exploring several decks, I finally found what I was looking for: a secluded corner on one of the lower decks, far from the bustle of the other students. It was a small space between two walls, partially hidden by some maintenance boxes that probably contained cleaning equipment or supplies for the cruise ship. The area was illuminated by a single dim light hanging from the ceiling, creating a calm and private atmosphere.
Perfect.
I made sure to look around several times, checking that there was no one nearby. The last thing I needed was for someone to see me practicing imaginary conversations. That would be mortifying. I was already pathetic enough doing this, I didn't need anyone else to know it.
Once I was sure I was completely alone, I breathed deeply. The salty ocean air filled my lungs, and for a moment, I allowed myself to simply exist in that space. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a conversation. A normal, casual, fluid conversation, like the ones the other girls in class had when they gathered in groups during lunch or after classes.
"H-Hello... how are you?" I murmured quietly, practicing the most basic greeting that existed.
My voice sounded trembling even to my own ears. Too weak, too insecure, too... pathetic.
No, that wouldn't work. I had to sound more confident. People didn't want to talk with someone who sounded like they were about to burst into tears at any moment.
"Hello, how are you?" I repeated, this time with a bit more firmness in my voice, trying to imitate the tone I had heard Matsushita-san use.
Better. That was a bit better. Still not perfect, but it was an improvement.
"I was wondering if... if you'd like to... um..." I stumbled over the words almost immediately.
What would come next? What would I ask someone to start a friendship? How did people continue a conversation after the initial greeting? It was something that had always confused me. The other girls seemed to do it so naturally, moving from one topic to another without apparent effort. But for me, each transition was like climbing a mountain.
"Would you like to go out for something?" I tried again, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment even being completely alone.
Wait. No. That sounded bad. That sounded like I was asking for a date, not proposing a friendship. Oh no, no, no, no. That definitely wasn't what I wanted to say.
"Would you like to spend time together?" I tried again, adjusting the words. "We could... we could get to know each other better and..."
I sighed frustrated, letting the sentence die in the air. This was harder than I thought. Much harder. Why was it so complicated to talk with people? For others it seemed so easy, so natural, so simple. But for me every word was like climbing a steep mountain without safety equipment.
"Come on, Airi, you can do it," I encouraged myself in a barely audible whisper, using my first name as if I were talking to another person. "Ayanokōji-san said to arm yourself with courage. Matsushita-san was kind to you. People aren't as scary as you think. They're just... people. Normal people who probably also have their own insecurities."
I breathed deeply again, filling my lungs with fresh air, and continued practicing with renewed determination.
"Hello, my name is Sakura Airi. It's a pleasure to meet you." That sounded good. Formal but friendly. A good balance.
"How has the cruise seemed to you so far?" A safe, neutral, harmless question. Anyone could answer that without feeling pressured or uncomfortable.
"I find it very beautiful. The ocean view is lovely, don't you think?" I was improving. I could feel it. The words flowed a bit more easily now.
I continued murmuring different phrases, different conversation scenarios, different possible responses to common questions. What to say if someone asked me about my hobbies. How to respond if they invited me to some group activity. How to maintain a conversation without it becoming awkward or dying in awkward silences.
I was so concentrated on my practice, so absorbed in my own thoughts and murmurs, that I didn't hear the footsteps approaching down the hallway. I didn't notice another person's presence until it was too late.
"Sakura?"
The sudden sound of a masculine voice cut through the air like a knife. My body reacted before my mind could process it. I let out a small choked scream, a high-pitched and frightened sound that escaped from my throat without permission. I turned abruptly, so fast I almost lost my balance, my heart beating so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest and run away down the hallway.
Ike-kun was there, standing a few meters away, looking at me with an expression of surprise and genuine concern. His eyes opened wide when he saw my reaction, and I could see the exact moment he realized he had scared me.
"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he exclaimed immediately, his voice full of sincere apology. Without hesitating for a second, he took several steps back, increasing the distance between us and raising his hands in a universal gesture of surrender and non-threat. "I didn't mean to scare you. Really, I'm so sorry. I didn't think that... I'm sorry."
I brought a trembling hand to my chest, pressing against my racing heart as if that could calm it somehow. I breathed deeply several times, inhaling and exhaling slowly, trying to regain control of my body that had entered panic mode. I felt how the initial panic began to dissipate slowly, replaced by a mixture of embarrassment and relief.
Ike-kun maintained his distance respectfully, without making any movement to come closer. He didn't take a single step forward, didn't make any gesture that could be interpreted as threatening or invasive. He simply stayed where he was, waiting patiently, giving me the space and time I needed to calm down.
That... that was considerate of him. Very considerate, in fact. Most people probably would have kept talking, or would have tried to approach to "help," without realizing that would only make things worse. But Ike-kun seemed to understand instinctively that what I needed at that moment was space.
Lately Ike has been acting more mature on his part, of course it didn't mean he had changed completely, but it seems that Ike has been trying to change from how he was before, that gave me hope that I too could change for the better, be a more sociable person and manage to have more friends.
"I... it's okay," I finally managed to say, though my voice still trembled a bit and sounded higher than normal. "You just... just took me by surprise. I didn't... I didn't hear you approaching."
"I know, I'm sorry," he repeated, his tone genuinely regretful. He lowered his hands slowly, but didn't move from where he was. "I should have made more noise or something. Are you okay now?"
I nodded slowly, feeling how my breathing finally returned to normal. My heart still beat a bit faster than usual, but I no longer felt it was about to jump out of my chest. Ike-kun waited patiently, without pressing me, without getting too close, simply giving me the time I needed. That helped me relax a bit more, to feel I wasn't in danger, that there was no reason to be scared.
Once he saw me calmer, with my breathing more stable and my hands stopping trembling, Ike-kun tilted his head slightly with curiosity. And there it was again that expression that wasn't difficult to notice if you paid a little attention, also that expression that was different from how I remembered him in class. More... calm, perhaps. More aware.
"What are you doing here alone?" he asked with a genuinely interested tone, without any trace of mockery or judgment in his voice. He didn't sound like he was trying to bother me or make some flattering or flirtatious comment. He just seemed... curious.
The question made me nervous again, though for completely different reasons. What did I tell him? That I was practicing imaginary conversations because I was too pathetic to talk with real people without prior preparation? That I was muttering alone in a hidden corner of the cruise ship like a complete loser?
"I... I was just..." I stammered, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. My hands unconsciously went to play with the edge of my skirt, a nervous habit I'd had since childhood. "I was just... um..."
Then, like a bolt of horror, I remembered I had been talking out loud. I had been practicing conversations out loud. How much had Ike-kun heard? Had he heard everything? Had he heard my pathetic attempts to form coherent sentences? My eyes opened with horror at the realization.
"D-Did you hear?" I asked nervously, my voice rising an octave from panic. I felt like I wanted the earth to swallow me right then. "Did you hear what I was saying?"
Ike-kun blinked a couple of times, as if considering how to respond. Then he nodded slowly, and I could see in his expression he was being honest with me.
"I heard something about going out with someone," he admitted, and my embarrassment multiplied by a thousand in an instant.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no.
"I-It's not what you think!" I exclaimed quickly, my words coming out stumbled in my desperation to clarify the situation. I waved my hands in front of me in a frantic gesture of denial. "I was just... just practicing to... to be able to make friends. Ayanokōji-san told me to arm myself with courage and I... I wanted to practice first because I always get very nervous when I talk with people and... and I don't know what to say and... and..."
I realized I was rambling, that my words were becoming an incoherent torrent of explanations and justifications. I stopped abruptly, lowering my gaze to the floor, unable to maintain eye contact with Ike-kun. Great. Simply great. Now even Ike-kun would definitely think I was a complete loser. He'd probably make fun of me, or worse yet, tell everyone in class about the weird girl who practices imaginary conversations in hidden corners.
But when I finally gathered the courage to look up timidly, expecting to see mockery or contempt on his face, I found none of that. Instead, there was an expression of... understanding? His eyes showed no cruelty or amusement at my expense. There was only something that seemed like genuine understanding.
"I see," Ike-kun said softly, his voice calm and without judgment. "So you were practicing conversations."
I nodded weakly, still feeling mortified but a bit less terrified he would make fun of me.
There was a moment of silence, not uncomfortable but charged with something I couldn't completely identify. Then, to my complete surprise, Ike-kun smiled. It wasn't a mocking or condescending smile. It wasn't the smile of someone who had just discovered an embarrassing secret they could use against you. It was... warm. Genuinely warm.
"You know, Sakura," he began, taking a cautious step forward, but stopping when he saw I tensed slightly. He stayed where he was, respecting my personal space. "If you want to practice making friends... I can be your friend. If you want, of course."
His words took me completely by surprise. Ike-kun... wanted to be my friend? The same Ike-kun who was always with Yamauchi-kun and Sudō-kun, making jokes and being loud in class? The same Ike-kun that most girls avoided because he was on that "boys who must die" list?
I blinked several times, processing what he had just said. In any other circumstance, at any other time, I would have doubted. I would have thought it was a joke or some kind of trap. I would have assumed he had hidden motives or was trying to make fun of me in some elaborate way. But the sincerity in his eyes told me something different. It told me he was serious.
"R-Really?" I asked with a trembling voice, feeling a small spark of hope light up in my chest like a candle in the darkness.
"Really," Ike-kun confirmed with a reassuring smile that reached his eyes. "Look, I know we're not exactly close in class. In fact, we've probably not even talked more than once all semester. But that doesn't mean we can't be friends now. Besides..." he paused, scratching the back of his neck with a slightly embarrassed gesture that made him seem more human, more accessible, "I also need to practice being a better person, so let's say it's mutually beneficial. You practice making friends, and I practice being a better friend. Everyone wins."
I couldn't help it. Despite all my embarrassment, despite all my anxiety, a small shy smile appeared on my lips. There was something genuine in the way Ike-kun spoke, something in his tone and his words that made me feel... safe. As if I could really trust him, as if he really wanted to be my friend without expecting anything in return.
"T-Then... okay," I said softly, feeling my cheeks blush but this time not from embarrassment but from something warmer. "I... I'd like to be your friend, Ike-kun."
Ike-kun's smile widened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something in his eyes. Satisfaction? Genuine happiness? Whatever it was, it made the warmth in my chest grow a bit more.
"Great. Then, friend Sakura," he said with a more animated tone but still maintaining a respectful volume that didn't make me feel overwhelmed, "how did it go with Matsushita? Did you become friends?"
The question surprised me. How did Ike-kun know about Matsushita-san? Then I remembered something important: Ike-kun, Matsushita-san and I were in the same group for the special exam. The Cow Group. Of course he would know about her. Probably assuming something like that was pretty obvious.
"I... yes," I responded, feeling a bit more comfortable now that the conversation had taken a more casual turn and was less centered on my embarrassing conversation practice. "Matsushita-san was very kind to me. We talked a little and... and I think we got along well. She's... she's very patient."
"That's great," Ike-kun said, and what surprised me was that he seemed genuinely happy for me. There was no sarcasm in his voice, no condescension. He just seemed really happy I had made a friend. "Matsushita is a good person. A bit mysterious sometimes, you never know exactly what she's thinking, but definitely someone you can trust. I'm glad you're getting along. We're group companions, after all, so it's good there's good chemistry between us."
I nodded, remembering the conversation I had had with Matsushita-san. She had been so understanding, so patient with me, she had never made me feel like I was being a nuisance or like my insecurities were something I should be ashamed of.
"Ike-kun..." I began timidly, playing with the edge of my skirt again, a habit I couldn't easily break, "how... how did you know I talked with Matsushita-san? I mean, beyond the group..." Despite my suspicion, I was still curious.
"Ah, that," Ike-kun shrugged casually, as if it were no big deal. "Well, it's not that hard to deduce... I mean you're the only two girls in our group, and from what I know you've never interacted or at least I haven't seen you interact, so both of you being in the same group has given you the opportunity for a connection between you two. Honestly I thought Matsushita would take advantage of that opportunity both for a genuine connection and to facilitate communication in the exam."
I felt my cheeks heat up again, but this time it was from embarrassment. Despite the logic of Ike's words, his words made me think. Had Matsushita-san really decided to be friends with her of her own will as a first choice? It made her feel a bit flattered, as well as shy.
There was a brief comfortable silence between us, the kind of silence that doesn't need to be filled with unnecessary words. Then Ike-kun spoke again, his expression becoming a bit more thoughtful.
"Hey, Sakura, I have a recommendation for you," he said, his tone becoming a bit more serious but still friendly. "If you want to make more friends, you should try approaching Hasebe."
"Hasebe-san?" I repeated, trying to remember who that was. The name sounded vaguely familiar, like something I had heard in class but had never paid much attention to. I think she was one of the girls in our class, but I wasn't sure which one exactly. There were so many people in class, and I spent so much time trying to be invisible that I hadn't paid attention to most of them.
"Hasebe Haruka," Ike-kun clarified, and I could see he was trying to help me visualize her. "She's a girl in our class. She has long hair, and probably stands out with her light blue color, and usually has a somewhat serious expression if you don't know her, but she's very calm and sociable with those she gets along with, and she's kind and patient. I think you two could get along very well."
"Why... why do you think that?" I asked with genuine curiosity. It was strange that Ike-kun had such a specific recommendation about someone I should become friends with.
Ike-kun scratched his cheek, thinking about how to explain it in a way that made sense.
"Well, it's just an intuition," he admitted honestly. "But I've noticed that Hasebe is the type of person who values authenticity above all. She doesn't like fake or pretentious people, those who act a certain way just to impress others. And you, Sakura, are probably one of the most genuine people I know. You don't pretend to be someone you're not. You don't put on a mask to fit in. I think Hasebe would appreciate that a lot."
His words made me feel warm inside, as if someone had lit a small flame in my chest. Did Ike-kun really think I was genuine? That I didn't fake it? No one had told me something like that before. Although well maybe that was partly my fault, because beyond my secret identity as an idol... I had no friends or acquaintances with whom I could talk, and the only friends I had made upon coming to school were Ayanokouji-san and Matsushita-san.
"Besides," Ike-kun continued, "Hasebe can seem a bit intimidating at first, with that calm expression and her somewhat direct way of speaking. But once you get to know her, she's quite kind and enthusiastic. And I think she also needs more friends, real friends who don't just want to be around her for her appearance or convenience. You two could help each other."
I considered his words carefully, letting them settle in my mind. The idea of approaching someone new still made me nervous, my hands were already sweating just thinking about it. But... if Ike-kun thought we could get along, if he really believed Hasebe-san could appreciate my company, maybe it was worth trying. Maybe this was another opportunity to arm myself with courage, as Ayanokōji-san had said.
"I... I'll try," I said finally, feeling a small wave of determination grow inside me. "Thank you for the recommendation, Ike-kun."
"No problem," he responded with a genuine smile. "That's what friends are for, right? To help each other."
The word "friends" resonated in my mind in a pleasant, warm way. I had a friend. Now I had three if I counted Matsushita-san. And maybe soon I'd have four if things worked out with Hasebe-san. The progress was slow, incredibly slow, but it was progress anyway. And that was more than I'd had in a long time.
We talked a bit more after that, about trivial and mundane things that made the conversation flow naturally. Ike-kun told me about the vacation, about the cruise ship food, about small observations he had made. It was easy to talk with him, easier than I had anticipated. He didn't press me, didn't make me feel uncomfortable, simply... talked with me as if I were a normal person. It was quite surprising.
Eventually, Ike-kun looked at his watch and sighed softly.
"Well, Sakura, I should go," he said, though he didn't seem to be in a hurry. "I have to meet someone in a while. But I'm glad we could talk. And remember, try to talk with Hasebe when you have the chance. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
"I will," I promised, feeling a mixture of nervousness and determination. "Thank you for everything, Ike-kun. For... for being my friend."
"The pleasure is mine," he said with a smile before saying goodbye with a friendly wave of his hand and walking away down the hallway.
I stayed there for a moment longer, processing everything that had happened. I had come here to practice imaginary conversations and ended up having a real conversation that turned out to be much better than I had imagined. I smiled to myself, feeling a warmth in my chest I hadn't felt in a long time.
Little by little, step by step, I was becoming stronger. And that... that made me happy.
ᕕ (⌐ ■ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ _ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬
11.2
Narrator: Ike
I walked away from Sakura with a satisfied smile on my face, feeling the conversation had gone even better than I had expected. The girl just needed a little self-confidence and someone who treated her with genuine respect. Hopefully, my small intervention would help her on her way to having more friends. And who knows, maybe Hasebe and she would really get along well. I had that feeling, that intuition that told me their personalities could complement each other in an interesting way.
As I walked away all this left me with a strange feeling in my chest. It wasn't the usual lust that this adolescent's hormonal body used to pump to my brain every time I saw a skirt—though, let's be honest, Sakura is objectively attractive—but something closer to the satisfaction of a job well done. Like a gardener who sees the first green sprout after weeks of fertilizing dead soil.
I turned, putting my hands in the pockets of my uniform pants, and began walking back toward the more crowded area of the ship. The soft hum of the Speranza's engine vibrated under my feet, a constant reminder that we were trapped in a floating golden cage. The hallways were bathed in that artificial, warm and luxurious light, designed to make you forget you were being evaluated every second of your existence.
Step one: Consolidate the Cow Group, completed—I thought, mentally reviewing my to-do list—. Step two: Avoid any suspicion that they might think I'm the VIP, in progress.
I was so absorbed in my machinations, calculating the probabilities of Ryūen making his move earlier than expected, that I almost didn't see the figure that materialized from one of the hallway corners near the vending machines.
"Kanji! Finally I find you, brother!"
The shrill and desperate voice broke my bubble of strategic concentration like a pin popping a balloon. I repressed a groan, tensing my jaw before forcing a relaxed smile on my face. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. That tone mixed with pleading and patheticness could only belong to one person on this ship.
Haruki Yamauchi.
"Haruki," I said, stopping and raising a hand in greeting. "What's up? You look like you've run a marathon. Or like you've seen Chabashira-sensei smile for real."
Yamauchi reached my side panting, resting his hands on his knees for a moment before straightening up. His hair was disheveled and he had that feverish look in his eyes he usually got when he had a "brilliant idea" that would inevitably end in disaster.
"Forget the old witch," he said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper while looking both ways down the hallway, as if we were about to exchange state secrets. "I have to ask you something important. Life or death, Kanji."
I raised an eyebrow, maintaining my carefree posture leaning against the wood-paneled wall.
"Life or death?" I repeated skeptically. "What's going on? Did you run out of points for video games? Or did Sotomura catch you stealing his magazines?"
"No, idiot! It's about..." Yamauchi moved closer, invading my personal space with a smell of cheap deodorant and nervous sweat. "It's about Sakura."
I sighed internally. Of course. What else could it be about?
"What about Sakura?" I asked, playing dumb.
"I saw her," Yamauchi said, his eyes shining with an almost manic intensity. "I saw her talking with you a while ago. And I also know you're in the same group for the exam. The Cow Group, right?"
"Yes, we're in the same group. So?"
Yamauchi grabbed me by the shoulder, his fingers squeezing the fabric of my jacket.
"So you have it, right? Tell me you have it."
"Have what, Haruki? Be specific. I don't read minds, and honestly, I'm afraid to try to read yours."
"Her number!" he exclaimed, almost shouting, before covering his mouth and lowering his volume. "Her contact information. Sakura Airi's phone number. You had to exchange numbers for the group, didn't you? It's standard. You made a group chat, right? You have to have it!"
I stared at him for a second, evaluating the situation.
Of course I had Sakura's number. I had gotten it just a few hours ago, under the perfectly logical and professional excuse of sharing Matsushita's notes about the exam rules. It was saved in my phone, safe and encrypted in my "assets" database.
But giving it to Yamauchi... That would be like giving a hand grenade to a monkey with attention deficit. Not only was it a violation of the trust I had just started to build with Sakura, but Yamauchi was, in kind terms, a walking romantic disaster. If he started harassing her with creepy messages or calls at odd hours, Sakura would retreat back into her shell, and my bridge to her would burn before I could cross it.
Besides, Sakura was already nervous enough with her internet idol identity hanging over her head. The last thing she needed was Yamauchi breathing down her neck.
"No," I said, with a lie so smooth and fluid I almost believed it myself.
Yamauchi's face fell.
"W-What? What do you mean no?"
"I don't have it," I repeated, shrugging. "Matsushita was in charge of the organization. She's like the bridge between us, they didn't even give us her number. I just... well, you know, I was there because we were part of the same group. I didn't exchange direct contacts with Sakura."
Yamauchi looked at me with suspicion, narrowing his eyes.
"You're lying. You're Ike Kanji. The king of getting information from girls. There's no way you were in a group with Sakura, the girl with the biggest... I mean, with the shyest girl in class, and didn't take advantage to get her number. Matsushita is there too! Are you going to tell me you didn't get Matsushita's either?"
"Not Matsushita's either," I lied again, maintaining eye contact. The best way to sell a lie to an idiot is to keep it simple and deny everything. "Look, Haruki, this exam is serious. We're talking about 500,000 class points. I didn't have time to flirt. We were discussing strategies against Class A, because I really want those points, imagine what I could buy with those points."
"But I want to conquer her!" Yamauchi whined, letting go of me and throwing his hands in the air in a gesture of childish frustration. "This is my chance, Kanji! Sakura is shy, she's vulnerable. She's perfect for me! If I get her number, I can start sending her funny messages, make her laugh, and bam! In love."
I rubbed my temple, feeling the beginning of a headache. This guy's delusion was worthy of clinical study.
"Haruki, listen to me carefully," I said, hardening my tone a bit. "Sakura is not an object you 'conquer' by spamming messages. And if you want her number so badly, why don't you go and ask her yourself? Be a man. Approach her, say hello and ask her."
Yamauchi stepped back as if I had suggested he jump overboard.
"Are you crazy? I can't do that! If she rejects me to my face, my heart won't be able to take it! Besides..." he shifted uncomfortably. "She always runs away when I approach. I think it's because I make her nervous with my attractiveness."
"Yeah, sure that's it," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "Look, I'm not going to give you her number because I don't have it, and even if I had it, I wouldn't give it to you because it would be betraying the group's privacy. Get it yourself or give up."
Yamauchi's expression changed. The pleading disappeared, replaced by a petty resentment I knew too well. It was the face he made when he felt the world owed him something and wasn't giving it to him.
"You're a bad friend, Kanji," he spat, crossing his arms. "After everything we've been through. You're hiding things from me. First you start acting like a cool guy, then you play the hero on the island, and now this."
"Bad friend?" I let out a dry laugh. "Haruki, I'm doing you a favor by preventing you from humiliating yourself."
"You owe me one!" he exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Remember the island exam? That fart! You blamed me for the fart in front of the girls! You ruined my image with them! The girls looked at me with disgust for days!"
I was stunned for a second. Of all the things he could bring up, he brought up the fake fart incident?
"Are you serious?" I asked him, incredulous. "Are you complaining to me about a fart joke when I literally saved your ass from expulsion?"
"What are you talking about?" Yamauchi blinked, confused.
I took a step forward, invading his space this time. My voice lowered, becoming dangerous.
"I'm talking about the underwear incident, Haruki. Or did you already forget?"
The color drained from Yamauchi's face instantly. His arrogance deflated like a popped balloon.
"T-That..." he stammered, looking around nervously. "T-That wasn't..."
"Wasn't what?" I cut him off, relentless. "I remember that morning perfectly. I remember your face of total panic when you opened your backpack and found Karuizawa's panties planted there. I remember how you were trembling, about to cry or faint, while Hirata checked the bags."
Yamauchi swallowed loudly, backing up until his back hit the hallway wall.
"And you didn't even let me intervene to help you," I continued, lowering my voice so only he could hear me, but injecting each word with steel, "Remember you threw the damn garment at me and left like a traitor, leaving me your problems?" Then I narrowed my eyes annoyed by that. "If I hadn't kept calm at that moment and hidden it in my pocket risking being called, discovered and called a pervert and thief myself. Maybe right now I wouldn't be on this ship eating free buffet. I'd be at home, expelled, with the label of 'underwear thief' stuck to my school record for life and all because of you, so don't come to me with nonsense."
"I-I..." Yamauchi tried to speak, but his voice was a thread. "I-I wasn't at fault... I wasn't the one who stole them! Someone put them there!"
"I know," I said coldly. "I know it wasn't you. You're too cowardly to do something like that. But that doesn't matter. The evidence was in your backpack. And then you gave them to me and if they discovered me in the eyes of the school, in the eyes of the girls, I would be the guilty one. And all because they used you as a pack mule, Haruki. They used you because you were the easiest target, the most pathetic, the one no one would hesitate to blame."
Yamauchi grimaced in pain at my words, but then tried to recover some dignity, straightening up a bit.
"Well... yes, but... in the end it was resolved, wasn't it?" he said with a forced tone of disdain, waving his hand as if swatting a fly. "We found out it was that girl from Class C, Ibuki. She was the culprit. So, technically, nothing serious happened. Everything turned out fine."
I felt a vein pulse in my temple. This guy's audacity had no limits.
"'Nothing serious happened'?" I repeated slowly. "'Everything turned out fine'?"
"Yes," Yamauchi insisted, gaining confidence from my silence. "I mean, thanks for that, I guess, I really appreciate it but... it's over. It's not that big a deal. You don't have to throw it in my face eternally. Besides, that only proves we're better friends and that you should help me with Sakura."
I sighed. A long, deep sigh that emptied my lungs.
Without warning, I raised my hand and gave him a sharp blow to the back of the head. Not hard enough to cause real damage, but firm enough to hurt and shake his brain.
"Ow!" Yamauchi rubbed his head, looking at me with teary eyes and indignation. "Why did you do that?! That hurt!"
"It was to see if it would restart your brain and the part that processes gratitude and common sense would start working," I said calmly, looking at him coldly. "Listen to me carefully, Haruki."
He stopped, intimidated by the change in my tone. The joking Ike wasn't speaking anymore. The me who had woken up in a room surrounded by men, some of whom were sweaty... better not think about that, was speaking.
"It could have ended very badly for both me and you," I said, emphasizing each word. "We could have been expelled. Our school life would have ended. I saved you. I risked myself for you. So don't you dare minimize it or act like it was something trivial."
I moved a little closer, fixing my gaze on him.
"And I'm warning you now: be more careful next time. Because if you get yourself into a stupid situation again because of your own incompetence or because you let yourself be manipulated by a pretty girl... I won't save you. I'll let you fall. Understood?"
Yamauchi looked at me with wide eyes. I think for the first time, he saw something in me that truly scared him. He saw that the safety net he thought he had—the solidarity of the "idiots"—wasn't unconditional.
"B-But..." he babbled, rubbing his head. "I'm your friend! You wouldn't let me fall!"
"Try me," I said simply.
Yamauchi held my gaze for a second, searching for the joke, searching for the sign that "everything was okay." He didn't find it. He swallowed and looked away, muttering something under his breath.
"Tch... how intense you've gotten," he said, trying to recover his bravado façade, though his voice trembled a little. "Okay, okay, I'll be careful. It's not like it's going to happen again. That only happens once in a lifetime. I'm smarter than you think, Kanji. I already learned my lesson. And I won't let any girl from another class fool me again."
"I hope so," I said, relaxing my posture a bit.
Yamauchi adjusted his shirt collar, miraculously recovering his confidence in a matter of seconds. His resilience capacity based on ignorance was, frankly, amazing.
"Well, now that we've cleared that up..." he looked at me sideways, with that hopeful and stupid smile again. "So you're really not going to give me Sakura's number? Not even for old times' sake? For the fart?"
I closed my eyes, asking for patience from any deity that was listening in this fictional universe.
"No," I said flatly. "Get it yourself."
"You're a cheapskate!" Yamauchi stuck his tongue out at me childishly. "Fine! I'll get it myself! And when Sakura is my girlfriend and we're eating together, I won't invite you! You'll be alone, Kanji!"
"I'll live with that pain," I said dryly.
"Hmph! I'm leaving. I have to go... plan my strategy. The Rooster Group won't lead itself."
"Please tell me you're not the leader," I murmured.
"I'm the brain in the shadows!" Yamauchi exclaimed, turning around and walking away down the hallway with a step that pretended to be dignified, but looked more like a duck walking. "See you, traitor!"
I watched him walk away until he disappeared around the corner, shaking my head.
The brain in the shadows...—I thought with irony—. If Yamauchi is the brain, that group is doomed to failure.
Silence returned to the hallway, and I felt how the tension from the interaction left my shoulders. Dealing with Yamauchi was exhausting in a different way from dealing with Ryūen or Katsuragi. With them, it was a battle of wits. With Yamauchi, it was a battle against pure entropy.
I put my hand in my pocket to take out my phone and check the time. It was almost dinner time, and my stomach was starting to protest. But before I could unlock the screen, the device vibrated in my hand.
A new message notification.
I frowned. Matsushita with more information? Sudō asking where I was?
I unlocked the screen and looked at the sender.
From: Ayanokōji Kiyone
Subject: (No subject)
My heart gave an involuntary jump. Not for romantic reasons—well, my rational brain insisted it wasn't for that, though Ike's body had a different opinion about the prettiest and most mysterious girl in class—but for what a direct message from her meant.
I opened the message.
"I need to talk to you. Alone. Meet me on deck 8, rear observation area, in 10 minutes. It's an isolated place, there won't be anyone at this hour."
I raised an eyebrow at the message. A secluded place? That sounded... interesting. I wondered what Kiyone wanted to discuss that required privacy. Information about the exam? Strategies? Or maybe she had discovered something important?
I looked at the time on my phone. I had time. And honestly, I was curious about what Kiyone wanted to talk about.
I typed a quick response.
Me: "Understood. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
I put away my phone and changed direction, heading toward deck 8. As I walked, my mind began analyzing the possible reasons why Kiyone would want to meet me privately. Whatever it was, it had definitely captured my attention.
The problem was: How much did she know? And what did she want?
If I played my cards wrong here, I could end up being seen as a threat. And being a threat to Ayanokōji Kiyone was the fastest way to be expelled—or worse, to be manipulated as a disposable tool.
But it was also an opportunity. If I could convince her I'm a useful ally... or at least, a neutral factor that can be negotiated with...
I adjusted my uniform jacket and breathed deeply, mentally preparing myself.
"Well, Kanji," I said to myself, starting to walk toward the elevators. "Showtime. Don't let her eat you alive."
What I didn't know, is that sooner or later she would eat me, but not in the way I was thinking a few seconds ago.
ᕕ (⌐ ■ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬ ᕕ (⌐ ■ _ ■) ᕗ ♪ ♬
11.3
Narrator: Kiyone
I was standing near the railing of the rear observation area on deck 8, looking toward the horizon where the sun began its slow descent toward the ocean. The sky was painted with warm tones of orange, pink and purple, creating a visual spectacle that even someone like me, who rarely stopped to appreciate aesthetic beauty, could recognize as impressive.
The wind played with my brown hair, moving it gently while the salty ocean air filled my lungs with each breath. It was refreshing, in a way I hadn't anticipated. Most students were in other parts of the cruise ship at this time, eating early or resting in their rooms, which made this place exactly what I needed: private and quiet.
I had chosen this outfit specifically for today. Tight black shorts that reached above my knees, highlighting the toned shape of my legs that I had developed through regular physical training. A short-sleeved white shirt that fit comfortably to my figure without being excessively revealing. And comfortable sandals that were appropriate both for walking around the cruise ship and for easily taking off if I decided to sit and relax.
[Imagen]
It wasn't that I was trying to impress anyone, of course. I had simply chosen practical and comfortable clothing for the cruise ship's warm climate. The fact that it also made me look good was... a convenient coincidence.
I had arrived here a few minutes before sending the message to Ike, wanting to make sure the place was really as secluded as I remembered. And indeed it was. The rear observation area was an area that most students ignored, preferring the more popular and crowded areas of the cruise ship. But that made it perfect for a private conversation.
As I waited, my mind reviewed the day's events. The group meeting had been... revealing. Class A's silence strategy was predictable but effective. The small incident with Karuizawa and the Class C girls was intriguing and deserved more investigation. And the general dynamics of the exam were developing in ways that were both expected and surprising.
But more than anything, my mind kept returning to Ike.
Ike Kanji was an anomaly. That was the only way to describe it. The Ike I had known at the beginning of the school year was loud, impulsive, somewhat immature, the type of person who acted without thinking too much about consequences. But the Ike I had seen recently, especially since the island exam, was different. More calculating, more observant, more... interesting.
There was something in the way he moved now, in the way he spoke, in the way his eyes evaluated situations with a sharpness he hadn't shown before. It was as if he had awakened something inside him, or as if he had decided to stop hiding his true nature.
And that intrigued me.
I heard footsteps approaching down the hallway behind me. I recognized the rhythm immediately. Ike had arrived.
I didn't turn around immediately, letting him approach while I continued looking at the horizon. I could feel his presence behind me, could imagine how he had probably stopped upon seeing me, how his eyes were probably evaluating the situation, evaluating me.
After a moment, I finally turned to look at him.
Ike was standing a few meters away, his hands in his pants pockets, his expression casual but his eyes alert. We looked at each other for a moment, a comfortable but charged silence between us.
"You came," I finally said, my voice neutral but not cold.
"You said it was important," Ike responded, approaching a bit closer but maintaining a respectful distance. "So here I am. What did you want to talk about?"
I observed his body language, the way he moved with a casual confidence that wasn't arrogance but simply comfort in his own skin. It was different from the Ike I remembered from a few months ago.
"How did your meeting go?" I asked, deciding to start with the basics.
"Nothing was achieved," he responded honestly, shrugging. "Class A implemented a total silence strategy. They didn't say a single word during the entire meeting. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. I tried to break the ice with some cards, but it didn't work. Class B was friendly as always, but without Class A's cooperation, we couldn't make much progress."
I nodded slowly. That confirmed my suspicions.
"In my group too," I said. "Class A remained silent. Not a single word, not even when Ichinose tried to be friendly and create a cooperative atmosphere."
"So it's a coordinated strategy," Ike murmured, more to himself than to me. "Katsuragi is playing it safe."
"Katsuragi?" I asked, though I had already reached the same conclusion. I wanted to hear his reasoning.
"Because this type of defensive and conservative strategy is exactly the kind of thing Katsuragi would do," Ike explained, his tone becoming more analytical. "Sakayanagi is more aggressive in her approach. She would play to win, not to tie. But Katsuragi just wants to maintain the status quo. If Class A doesn't say anything, they can't mess up. And if they don't mess up, they maintain their current class points advantage."
His analysis was correct. Precise and well-reasoned. I had researched Sakayanagi a bit, when I overheard by chance and was also curious about the person who was absent in the island exam. The information I collected was quite useful.
"I see," I said, nodding slightly. "That's a logical conclusion."
There was a brief pause, and then I decided to change the subject.
"The Cow group members," I said directly, without beating around the bush. "Do you have the complete list?"
Ike looked at me with a slightly surprised expression, but then smiled slightly.
"I thought Sakura had already given it to you," he commented.
"I thought about asking her," I admitted, "but I wanted to get them from you."
Ike frowned slightly, and I could see a slight blush appear on his cheeks. Interesting.
"Why from me specifically?" he asked.
"Because I trust your information," I responded simply. It was the truth. Ike had proven to be reliable when it came to important data.
Ike smiled at that, a genuine smile that reached his eyes.
"It's natural that they would desire me," he said with a boastful tone, clearly trying to lighten the moment.
I looked at him with what probably seemed like amusement. If I could smile at will, I probably would have done so at that moment.
Ike got more serious and took out his phone. After a few moments of typing, my phone vibrated. I checked the message and saw he had sent me the complete list of Cow Group members.
I scanned the names quickly, memorizing them: Ike Kanji, Sakura Airi, Matsushita Chiaki, Sudō Ken, and members from other classes. They weren't alphabetically ordered, which was typical of Ike.
"Thank you," I said, putting away my phone.
Ike looked at me for a few moments and then commented. "You know, since I gave you the names of my group, it would also be useful if you gave me the names of your Rabbit group."
I tilted my head for a while and analyzed him for a few minutes thinking about what strategy Ike was coming up with or maybe he didn't have an exact strategy and was looking for clues for the exam.
"That seems fair to me. I'll send you a message with all the names later," I commented. "So you have them in writing."
"I'd appreciate that," he responded.
There was a brief silence between us. It wasn't uncomfortable, if they had asked me before if I could relax with Ike, maybe I would have ignored them and changed the subject without giving importance to the comment. But now it was different, the silence continued, while we enjoyed the sound of the waves and the wind filling the space.
"Do you want to eat ice cream?" I asked suddenly.
Ike blinked, clearly not expecting that question.
"Ice cream?" he repeated.
"Yes," I confirmed. "There's an ice cream shop on deck 5. Food is free during the cruise. I thought we could take advantage of it."
Ike looked at me for a moment, as if trying to decipher if there was any hidden motive behind my invitation. Then he smiled.
"Sure," he accepted. "Why not?"
We walked together toward the ice cream shop, the silence between us comfortable and natural. I didn't feel the need to fill every second with trivial conversation, and apparently Ike didn't either.
When we arrived at the ice cream shop, we ordered our ice creams. I chose chocolate, simple but effective. Ike ordered cookies and cream, mentioning it was his weakness.
We found a table near a window with an ocean view. The sun was lower now, creating golden reflections on the water.
"So," Ike began after trying his ice cream, "is there any specific reason you wanted to meet with me today? Apart from exchanging information about the groups, I mean."
"I wanted to talk," I admitted. "About the exam, about strategies, about... things in general."
"Things in general," Ike repeated with a slightly amused smile. "That's very specific."
"How have the summer vacations seemed to you so far?" I asked, changing the subject. "Apart from the special exam."
Ike considered the question while licking his ice cream.
"Interesting," he finally responded. "The cruise ship is impressive, the food is excellent, and the ocean is relaxing to see. Although it would be better if we didn't have to worry about exams and strategies all the time."
"I agree," I said. "Although vacations without any productive purpose seem to me... inefficient."
Ike looked at me with a curious expression.
"You know what I think?" he said. "I think it's okay not to be productive all the time. Sometimes, just... existing is enough. Enjoying the moment without thinking about the future or objectives."
His words made me pause. It was a concept I understood intellectually, but had never really practiced.
"It's difficult for me to do that," I admitted.
"It's what I suspected," Ike said softly. "But maybe you should try it from time to time. The best moments are the ones you don't plan."
I looked at him, really looked at him. There was a depth in him I hadn't expected.
And at that moment, I realized something.
Ike Kanji was someone worth getting to know better.
Not just for strategic reasons. But because he was... interesting. Genuinely interesting.
And without realizing it, I smiled slightly.
.
.
.
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