The moment Nanase stepped into Class 2-C, her eyes locked onto Ayanokouji.
She was striking, with long, straight blonde hair and large blue eyes, but her gaze was razor-sharp. A fierce, unwavering thirst for revenge burned within them. She was here for her childhood friend—and the man she held indirectly responsible for his death was sitting right in front of her: Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
Nanase's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white, her teeth grinding as her fury reached a boiling point.
Seeing such a beautiful girl enter the room, the boys of Class C couldn't help but perk up, ready to offer a greeting. Their hopes were dashed instantly, however, as Nanase marched toward Ayanokouji's desk without a second thought. A wave of collective disappointment washed over the room.
Nanase reached the desk and slammed both hands down on the surface. The loud crack shattered Ayanokouji's daydreams—which, admittedly, had been focused on what he was going to eat at Ryunosuke's place that night. He blinked, looking up at the girl with a blank, curious expression.
(Nanase Tsubasa, right? I think I remember her...)
(Wasn't she Eiichiro's childhood friend?)
Ayanokouji's memory of her was clear, but their connection was shallow; they were acquaintances at best. He dropped the hand he'd been using to prop up his chin and met her gaze with his usual detached, flat stare.
"Can I help you with something, Nanase-san?"
Nanase's jaw tightened. "Don't you have anything to say to me about Eiichiro?"
"Why is he dead? Answer me!"
She screamed the words, her composure completely shot. It was understandable; the childhood friend she had secretly loved had been effectively killed because of this man. Confronting her enemy made her eyes turn bloodshot with loathing. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to kill him where he sat.
However, the realization that she was in a school full of witnesses forced her to rein it in. She fought to suppress the rage roiling in her chest.
(Now isn't the time. Stay calm. Stay calm...)
Nanase squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep, ragged breath and exhaling the tension until she managed to settle into a cold, hollow stare.
Ayanokouji, meanwhile, felt a slight headache coming on. This girl was the childhood friend of his late best friend, Eiichiro Matsuo. Eiichiro had moved mountains to help him escape the White Room, a debt he had ultimately paid with his life—and his father's.
Because of that, Ayanokouji did feel a twinge of guilt. Just a twinge. It was the pure, clinical regret of losing a highly effective "tool."
Eiichiro Matsuo: (Seriously? Show some respect! I put my life on the line for your escape, my dad died because of the fallout, and all you feel is "a little" guilty?!)
If Eiichiro were still alive, he would have surely cursed Ayanokouji out. He had truly rescued a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Ayanokouji studied the newcomer, weighing his options. Killing her was off the table; even for him, it was distasteful to harm the childhood friend of the man who had died for him.
(Maybe a few lies will handle this for now,) he mused.
Nanase, staring down at the person her friend had sacrificed everything to save, couldn't hide her bitter disappointment. Her eyes drooped with a heavy, mournful weight.
(Eiichiro died for someone like this... what a waste.)
To her, Ayanokouji didn't seem worth the price. (Look at him, Eiichiro. Does he look even a little bit sad for you?)
She made a decision: she would see Ayanokouji expelled. If the only reason he was in this school was because of Eiichiro, then it was time to take it all back. Give it all back to Eiichiro!
Ayanokouji began to offer an explanation, claiming he had no idea Eiichiro's path would end in tragedy. Unfortunately, Nanase was far too volatile to listen to logic.
Ayanokouji found himself in a bind. He racked his brain for a way to deceive—no, persuade—this girl. At the very least, he needed to deflect her target. He just wanted to live a quiet life.
Elsewhere.
Faced with Ryunosuke's threat of a twelve-fold expulsion, Ichika chose the path of silence.
They parted ways, and Ryunosuke headed back to class, only to walk right into the unfolding scene. He leaned against the doorframe, content to watch the show from the sidelines. He was quite looking forward to seeing Ayanokouji get humiliated.
Ayanokouji, desperate for a way to handle the situation, caught sight of Ryunosuke in the doorway. His eyes lit up instantly. He had found his scapegoat.
Suddenly, Ayanokouji spoke to Nanase. "Do you know why I wanted to come to this school in the first place?"
Confused, Nanase frowned. "Why?"
"Because of him!" Ayanokouji pointed directly at Ryunosuke, who was standing at the door with a serious expression.
Ryunosuke pointed at himself, baffled. "Why me?"
Nanase slammed her hands on the desk again, turning her fury back on Ayanokouji.
"What are you saying? You mean this... this average-looking guy is the reason you let Eiichiro die?!"
"Hey, hey, hey! No need for the personal attacks!" Ryunosuke protested from the door. He was supposed to be the audience, so how did he end up as the lead actor?
"Shut up!"
Nanase barked at him to be quiet. She was interrogating Ayanokouji; she didn't need the peanut gallery.
Ryunosuke mimed zipping his lips shut, signaling he'd stay out of it.
But Ayanokouji had no intention of letting him off the hook. They were "best friends," after all—brothers in arms! If there were burdens to be borne, they would bear them together. There was no escape.
He delivered the final blow to Nanase:
"That's right! Compared to Eiichiro, I care far more about Akasaka. Even if it meant Eiichiro had to die, that fact wouldn't change. Akasaka will always be the only one for me."
Nanase froze like a statue. Ryunosuke's jaw hit the floor, and the rest of Class 2-C followed suit.
How was that any different from a confession of love?
The students of Class 2-C began stealing glances at Ayanokouji and Ryunosuke, whispering frantically.
"I knew their relationship was weird. No wonder they're always together; they've got a 'special' connection. Wow... just wow."
One student clicked his tongue in amazement. "Who knew they were like that?"
Airi's eyes went dull and lost their focus. She never imagined her greatest rival would be a man. Haruka immediately rushed to her side to comfort her.
"It's a lie! It's so obviously a lie, Airi, don't believe it!"
Haruka was reeling. Given Ryunosuke's reputation as a massive playboy with a finger in every pie, what part of Ayanokouji's brain had short-circuited to come up with that story?
Airi blinked, slowly coming back to her senses. When she thought about it, Haruka was right. (His interest in girls seems... very normal...)
Meanwhile, Kei didn't give the statement a second thought. She knew a lie when she heard one; only a fool would take that at face value.