Chapter 270: Looking Down From Above / I, Arisu, Will Not Let Kamuro Be Expelled!
The list of names Suzune proposed for expulsion contained only one person: Yamauchi Haruki.
Did this mean Horikita Suzune currently had no intention of having Kushida Kikyo expelled?
But wait—how exactly did Suzune see through Kikyo's identity?
As if noticing the confusion on Shimizu Akira's face, Suzune proactively explained: "You probably remember that an anonymous person sent me a friend request and passed on intel. I eventually accepted that request."
She paused and added, "The phones issued by the school have a feature where friends can see each other's real-time location. I cross-checked it; the anonymous person's location overlapped perfectly with Kushida Kikyo's."
"I see." Shimizu finally understood. He had known about this feature since the second month of school, but he followed up: "When did you think of this method?"
"The hint came from Ike-kun," Suzune replied.
"One day in the cafeteria, I overheard him saying he used the location feature to quietly track Shinohara-san's position. It occurred to me then that I could use this to uncover the anonymous sender's identity."
So, Ike Kanji had leaked it accidentally.
Shimizu recalled Ike mentioning that he spent Saturday and Sunday nights staring at Shinohara Satsuki's GPS dot, terrified she might appear near the boys' dormitory. Men in love truly are frightening.
"Later, I specifically sought out Yamauchi Haruki and asked who had added him and sent him messages," Suzune continued. "He was likely desperate to prove his intel was credible, so he couldn't wait to show me the anonymous account and the chat logs. After comparing them, I found the account was identical to the one that added me. Plus, the tone of the messages was very much in Kushida Kikyo's style."
She pulled her phone from her pocket and handed it to Shimizu. On the screen were screenshots of the chat logs. The profile picture and nickname matched.
"Providing VIP intel does not equal betraying the class."
"You just want to survive in Class D; there is nothing wrong with that."
At first glance, it sounded like her usual comforting tone used to soothe classmates, but upon closer inspection, the instigation was poorly hidden.
Then again, Yamauchi Haruki was "impressive" in his own right. He had accepted the idea of betrayal without hesitation and had even urged Kikyo to arrange a meeting with Ryuen Kakeru
as soon as possible. By the end of the conversation, he had shamelessly asked Kikyo for a 200,000-point advance, acting as if he were making a perfectly normal business transaction.
"We could actually look for Ryuen; he might have more evidence," Suzune suggested after glancing at him.
"No need." Shimizu rubbed his temples. He didn't want to dig any deeper. Suzune already had sufficient evidence. He decided to just admit it: "Your guess is correct. That anonymous person is indeed Kushida Kikyo."
"So you knew all along..." This answer didn't surprise her.
"I realized it later. She didn't reveal anything to me at first," Shimizu responded, then asked with a hint of worry, "Suzune, how do you plan to handle this?"
For someone like Kikyo, expulsion wasn't the harshest punishment. Publicly exposing her and destroying the "angelic" image she had meticulously built would be the fatal blow—and that was a situation Shimizu desperately wanted to avoid.
"I don't intend to take any action for the time being. You may relay my attitude to her," Suzune analyzed calmly.
"Firstly, Kushida-san has not directly harmed the class's interests yet. While her intel to Yamauchi was leading, it was Yamauchi who took the bait. Furthermore, she was the one who messaged us to meet at that shop at 6:00 PM. I believe her goal this time was more about making Yamauchi look like a fool in front of everyone; betrayal wasn't her primary intent. In fact, she didn't take any points or rewards for herself; all 200,000 points went to Yamauchi.
I don't like admitting it, but Kushida Kikyo possesses excellent communication skills, good academic ability, and athletic reflexes... For the current class, she is still an indispensable key player.
Moreover, during the VIP exam, I explicitly warned her not to betray the class. It seems she actually listened to me. She's quite obedient, and her performance this time was acceptable—barely a passing grade."
Suzune closed her eyes slightly, a smile of "charitable tolerance" on her face.
"I'll pretend I don't know this time. I've sent all the evidence to you and don't plan on showing anyone else. I'll spare her this once."
Looking down from above.
Because Shimizu had crouched down to retie the leg strap midway, Suzune was literally looking down at him as she spoke.
Combined with her tone, the posture felt incredibly condescending. Whether it was intentional or accidental, the sense of "pity" for Kikyo was palpable.
It was a good thing Kikyo wasn't there to hear it, or she would have been livid.
"Wait," Shimizu realized something. "You two talked privately? She actually listens to you? I find that hard to believe."
"We had a brief chat on the first night of the VIP exam. This time, you're responsible for making sure she doesn't act on her own," Suzune said, turning back toward the field.
"As for me, I'll watch Yamauchi. I've told Hirata as well; he'll keep an eye on his movements."
Fine. The division of labor was clear. One person per target.
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Suzune wasn't actually good at the Three-Legged Race. When paired with Shimizu, she kept trying to rush ahead at her own pace, nearly tripping them several times. It wasn't until Shimizu insisted they synchronize that she slowed down and adjusted.
Because the race required physical contact—either arms around shoulders or waists—it was an intimate exercise.
Suzune was surprisingly calm, perhaps because she was already used to his touch from their time in the dorm.
After practicing four or five times, Shimizu tried a few laps with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Being two guys, they chose the shoulder-to-shoulder grip (waist-holding was too awkward).
Since both were highly athletic, they shared a strange, unspoken rhythm, knowing exactly when to accelerate and when to yield.
They quickly became the fastest duo in the class.
Watching from the side, Suzune frowned with a strange sense of discomfort. She insisted on practicing with Shimizu several more times until the end of class.
Shimizu didn't quite understand her sudden competitiveness—obviously a male-male duo would be faster than a mixed one.
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After school, Shimizu received a message from Yamamura Miki.
Yamamura: Shimizu-kun, thank you again for the 100,000 points you sent last time! Also, I was actually a member of the 'Remaining' VIP group, so thanks to you, I received an extra 500,000 points. If you ever need my help with anything, please let me know. I will do my best.
So she was in that group too? Her tone suggested she was now available for "assignments." Her tracking ability from the island exam had been top-tier, after all.
Being cautious, he replied:
Shimizu: Are you alone? Is Kamuro there?
Sakayanagi Arisu (via Yamamura): Fufu, I, Sakayanagi Arisu, am indeed here. What a shame you found out.
A new message popped up immediately. This wasn't the first time he'd dealt with someone "proxy-messaging."
Sakayanagi: By the way, I cracked the VIP rules on the second day. I wonder when you found out, Shimizu-kun?
Shimizu: You won; I lost this time. I didn't figure it out until the third day.
Sakayanagi: Not bad~ The taste of victory is indeed pleasant.
Shimizu cut to the chase:
Shimizu: Sakayanagi, what's your angle? Why are you letting Yamamura be at my disposal?
Sakayanagi: No reason~ I'm just a kind leader who cares for her subordinates. You and Kamuro are on good terms; I can't completely ignore their feelings, can I? I do spoil Kamuro, after all.
'A kind leader? Spoil Kamuro? Sakayanagi Arisu? Her?'
Shimizu: Then what would you do if Kamuro encountered a situation in the second year where she absolutely had to be expelled?
As he sent this, he thought of the old woman's prophecy: Masumi Kamuro will face an expulsion crisis in her second year. The phrase "the person who treasures her" might refer to him, but could it include Sakayanagi?
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"Kamuro being expelled?!" Sakayanagi Arisu set down the phone, her brow furrowed. He mentioned the second year—something happening next year? To cancel an expulsion, one needed 20 million points.
While Kamuro wasn't a direct subordinate, they spent most of their time together.
Was it a friendship? Arisu wasn't sure, but she knew her mood was always better when Kamuro was around (second only to her chats with Shimizu).
She had grown fond of Kamuro's "disgusted face" while doing chores for her.
Sakayanagi: Don't underestimate me! Shimizu-kun, I will definitely protect Kamuro. I won't let her be expelled.
Could she even call herself a leader if she couldn't protect those close to her? She glanced at Yamamura Miki, who was anxiously staring at the screen. If Kamuro left, Yamamura would be devastated and likely lose her effectiveness.
Sakayanagi: Furthermore, I won't let the person who tries to force her out off the hook. I will target them until they are expelled!
Shimizu: Really? I find that hard to believe. I was just asking; I already decided to protect her myself. I don't need you.
Arisu raised an eyebrow.
Sakayanagi: Oh? Such confidence. You aren't one for empty talk. Do you already have 20 million points?
Shimizu: Yes.
As she expected! He already had the 20 million! But he hadn't transferred classes yet?
Arisu noticed Yamamura Miki's eyes were red.
"Say what's on your mind," Arisu said softly.
"Th-that..." Yamamura lowered her head. "I think Shimizu-kun is really good to Kamuro. He has 20 million points but stays in Class C just to think about protecting her... Kamuro is my best friend. I'm really grateful to him."
"How grateful?" Arisu teased.
"Shimizu is a boy. If he wanted to 'make a move' on you, and Kamuro was okay with it, would you agree?"
"I... I'm not... not sure..." Yamamura turned beet red, her fingers twisting together.
Arisu felt a pang of frustration.
Shimizu Akira was quietly "conquering" her people again! By using Kamuro as the lever, he was aiming for a double kill.
"I also said I'd protect her," Arisu huffed. "Why aren't you praising me? Why is it only 'Shimizu is good'?"
"I... I just..." Yamamura looked away.
'Do you not trust me? Is only Shimizu reliable?'
Arisu wasn't truly angry. She knew her own reputation had taken a hit from internal power struggles, and she didn't actually have 20 million points yet.
Words were useless. Actions were everything.
'I! Sakayanagi Arisu! Will not let Kamuro Masumi be expelled!'
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