After School
In the morning, I was called to Ryuen's place, and now I'm waiting in an empty classroom where no one else remains. It's been about ten minutes, but Ryuen still hasn't shown up.
...Should I just go home?
As I prepare to leave, since he's taking so long, I hear footsteps approaching from the hallway. For a moment, I think it might be a teacher, but the rough, deliberate steps tell me otherwise.
"Heh. Trying to leave, are you?"
"It's because you're late..."
Ryuen forcefully opens the door, his eyes scanning the room before settling on me. A smirk plays on his lips.
"So, what's up? I haven't done anything, have I?"
"Don't play dumb. You've worked harder than anyone this time."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
He probes, but I evade the question, feigning ignorance. Not that it matters—he probably already knows.
"...Why did you credit me?"
His smirk fades slightly as he asks the question.
"It's more convenient for me that way. I have no intention of standing out right now, so let me be your pawn."
Realizing there's no point in dodging anymore, I decide to be direct. I want Ryuen to understand how I prefer to be treated.
"Heh. Then I'll use you until you're worn out, so brace yourself."
Ryuen chuckles, clearly entertained by my words.
Maybe I said too much.
While I don't want to stand out, I also don't want to be exploited that much.
"Sounds like a black company..."
"And 'right now' implies you'll eventually step into the spotlight, right?"
"...Well, someday."
Ryuen eyes me with suspicion, but he seems to come to his own conclusion and doesn't press further.
"Anyway, thanks to you, our class points went up. As a reward, I'll take you somewhere nice. Follow me."
As if remembering something, Ryuen says this and walks out of the classroom. Since I was about to leave anyway, I follow him.
Somewhere nice?
Given Ryuen's usual image, I can't help but picture something sketchy—maybe a hostess club or a gambling den.
But as I follow him, the sky darkens. We walk to a slightly secluded area near Keyaki Mall, where small, lesser-known shops are lined up. Though a bit hidden, quite a few people are around, meaning it must be a well-kept secret.
"Here we are."
Ryuen stops in front of a modest-looking ramen shop.
A ramen shop?
This is actually my first time eating ramen since coming to this school, and the thought excites me as I step inside with Ryuen.
"That was delicious..."
"Heh, told you."
We finish our ramen, and by the time we leave the shop, the sky has completely darkened.
Walking back to the dorm with Ryuen feels a bit strange, but all I can think about is the ramen we just had.
"That was the best ramen I've had since coming to this school."
"Right? It's a hidden gem, so don't go spreading the word."
"If there are more places like that, invite me next time."
"Heh, sure. But in return, you've gotta work hard."
"Leave it to me. My motivation is through the roof."
"Easy for you to say."
Ryuen laughs, seeming satisfied.
I start thinking it might be fun to invite Ishizaki and the others next time—maybe Shiina and Ibuki too. Not long ago, the old Ryuen wouldn't have invited me like this, and even if he did, he probably would've turned down Ishizaki and the others.
But now, Ryuen has changed. There shouldn't be a problem.
"Speaking of which, why were you late today?"
I've been curious about this all day. He may have a bad attitude, but it's unusual for him to be late when he's the one who called me out. If he just says it was on a whim, that'd be the end of it.
"Some guys from our class called me out. They didn't like the way I do things."
"Huh. There are still people opposing you? Well, knowing you, you probably brushed it off easily. Who was it?"
"Some guy named Tokito. I told him to come talk to me after he's actually achieved something worth mentioning."
That sounds exactly like something Ryuen would say. Unless someone is causing trouble for the class, complaining about those actually putting in the effort is just selfish.
"Well, you're the class leader, so handle it well."
"And you, make sure to work hard as my pawn."
As we reach the dorms, we each head toward our rooms.
With one last sarcastic remark, Ryuen smirks and disappears into his room.
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Author's Note
Sorry this was so short!
I wanted to wrap it up here since we're moving on to the deserted island test next!
Jumping straight into it felt too abrupt, so I decided to end this part here.
Next up, we'll finally dive into the deserted island test arc.
I'd like to involve characters who haven't had much screen time yet—maybe on a luxurious cruise ship. I'm also thinking of deepening the interactions with Sakayanagi and Shiina.
Looking forward to next time!
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