"I want us to make a deal. I don't know if your shitty sources caught wind of it, but I've got a weapon that could shatter our class's Class A dreams."
'A threat. How childish, Kushida. Is this the path you've chosen? I thought I made myself clear the other day…'
Taking my silence as a sign the conversation's tilting her way, she presses on.
"I've got plenty of secrets about our classmates that, if exposed, would cause quite a stir. And given how this school works, it'd be a much bigger problem—one that could demote us to a lower class, maybe even back to Class D, who knows."
"Why would you do that? You're part of this class too."
I don't question her claims.
Even though it's only been a month since school started, this psychopath is more than capable of having already gathered a trove of secrets. It's her talent, after all—her area of expertise.
"I don't care about class rankings. I just want a peaceful, quiet school life."
"Hm? Should I assume your school life isn't peaceful and quiet right now?"
Of course, I know what she wants. But what? I just want to hear the twisted nonsense from this lunatic. No, she's not crazy—just sick… Though, isn't madness a sickness too?
"Yeah."
"Can you elaborate?"
"What? Can't you see it with your filthy eyes?"
I smile.
"Nah, it's just more fun hearing it from your mouth."
"You!"
Her already ugly expression twists even uglier.
"Hahaha! Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing."
I grab my glass and down its contents in one gulp.
'Ah, so refreshing!'
"Kushida-chan."
I set down the empty glass and call her name. My tone's no longer playful but dead serious. Same with my expression.
"Have you forgotten what I said at the library the other day?"
I lock eyes with Kushida. She's trying to act tough, but the slight trembling in her hands betrays her.
"I… Things have changed with this school's rules. Now I've got something to fight back with."
"Your so-called secrets?"
"I… believe it or not, I can ruin our class's chances of staying in A."
"I believe you, of course I do. I know what you're capable of, Kushida-chan. But are you sure you want to go down this road with me?"
'I've always wondered what to do with you. There's no denying you're beyond saving, but that doesn't mean you're useless. You might think you've got the upper hand here, but you're dead wrong.'
I continue.
"If I've got this right, you want me to help you get Horikita-chan expelled, don't you? With the school's new rules, you saw a golden opportunity to get rid of her."
"As expected, you figured it out, huh…"
"Still, there's something I don't get. You want Horikita-chan gone because she knows your secret. But shouldn't I be in the same boat, since I know it too?"
"While I'd love to see you gone too, I know that's not easy. If you help me with Horikita, I'll tolerate your presence. Who knows, you might even become my first real friend."
Her words make me laugh.
'Real friend? The only one who'd be friends with the real you is the devil.'
"Has it ever crossed your mind that I could be recording this conversation, Kushida-chan?"
I toss out.
She smiles.
"Impossible. Don't think you're the only one who can read people. I know you'd never stoop to something like that. You're far too full of yourself to resort to such tricks."
She's got my character nailed.
"Fair point. It's good you already know we're not playing in the same league. So, I'll give you a chance, Kushida-chan."
I refill my fruit juice before continuing.
"Keep being useful to me as you are now, and I promise no one will ever learn your secret. I'll also make sure those who already know it don't spill it to others. What do you say?"
It's a solid offer.
After all, it's unlikely Kushida, who plays the perfect angel, would want to torch her own world just to cause harm. She'd lose a lot in the process. But because I know her dark side, I know she's got some wiggle room.
"If I refuse?"
Her question suggests she's not happy with my offer.
"Are you sure you want to turn it down, Kushida-chan?"
"Why not? It doesn't change the fact that people know my secret. Only when she's gone will I feel at ease."
She rejects it without hesitation.
I take a sip.
"Alright then."
"You'll let me ruin the class?"
Kushida asks, skeptical.
"What do you expect me to do? You rejected my offer. You're free to do as you please."
"You think I won't dare?"
"I know you're capable of the worst, Kushida-chan."
"Then…"
I cut her off and lean toward her.
"Don't make me laugh, Kushida-chan. It's obvious you won't. You care too much about your perfect little life. No, what you're planning is to spy for the other classes. Am I wrong?"
Her confident look vanishes.
"It's a clever move, sure, but the fact that you came here to talk shows you're not even sure anyone can beat me, right? That's why you're negotiating, trying to settle this without risk."
I see her hands crumpling the hem of her floral dress.
"You can spy for whoever you want, Kushida-chan, but know it'd be a huge mistake to side against me."
I finish, leaning back and taking another sip of juice.
Silence fills the room for a while, broken only by whispers.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it…"
Kushida's muttering curses.
"Why did Horikita and you have to come to this school? Why can't you just disappear? Go die! Fuck, damn it!"
"Language like that doesn't suit a young, pretty girl like you, Kushida-chan."
"Shut up. Go to hell!"
Head down, she keeps swearing. Then, she suddenly looks up.
"I know. What if I offer you my body, huh? You help me get rid of that bitch, then you leave. You look like some rich kid. Dropping out of this school wouldn't hurt your future. You'd probably find a better one. What do you say?"
She leans toward me, deliberately showing off her cleavage, and massages her chest.
'Seriously?'
I don't know what a normal student would feel, but for me, I just want to spank this depraved kid.
'Look at this child, ready to throw away her virginity for nonsense. I say "virginity"—what makes me think she's still a virgin? Honestly, Kushida, you've just killed the little respect I had for you.'
Maybe noticing my disgust, she pushes on.
"What? I'm sure you'd love it. So, what do you say? I know you want it."
I suppress the urge to slap her.
'Calm down, calm down.'
And she says because I'm a rich kid, studies are optional for me? Twenty years ago, I might've agreed, but now her words just piss me off more.
Holding my emotions in check, I laugh, shattering her confidence.
"That might've worked on someone else, but to me, you're just a caterpillar pretending to be a butterfly. My standards for women are way higher than that, dear. Come back in ten years, and then we might talk."
Her eyes widen, stunned.
"Why not just drop the nonsense and take my offer?"
"There's… no guarantee you'll keep your word."
Barely recovering, she gives that reply.
"True, true…"
I down my glass before continuing.
"But, as you pointed out, I'm someone with high self-esteem. Do you really think I'd stoop to going back on my word? This is my final offer, Kushida-chan. I've already been far too lenient."
The air grows tense as Kushida grapples with her thoughts. I let her, waiting calmly for her answer. Yes or no doesn't matter—it'll just decide if student Kushida Kikyō survives or vanishes.
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