Chapter 27: Kushida is about to explode

  "Sorry for disturbing your little moment with Ichinose," Kushida said, her voice full of displeasure despite the apologetic words.

  Now, he and Kushida had left the dorm and arrived at her usual spot for venting—by the seaside. The cool sea breeze occasionally swept over them, making him feel a bit cold.

  Rubbing his hands, Hachiman leaned against the railing and stared at the seemingly bottomless sea. “I told you, it was just a misunderstanding. There's no way anything could happen between me and Ichinose.”

  Ichinose reminded him of the girl he confessed to back in middle school—gentle and kind to everyone.

  Kind girls are kind to everyone. Back then, he had mistakenly thought she was only kind to him, which made him arrogant and self-satisfied. It ended badly for both of them.

  That’s why he dislikes gentle girls.

  “Still acting tough, huh?”

  Suddenly, two soft warm arms wrapped around his front from behind, and Kushida's body pressed tightly against his back. Hachiman felt her cheek even touch him.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Don’t move!”

  Kushida’s cold tone behind him brooked no argument. He could only continue looking out over the calm sea, his mood as still as the surface before him.

  “Your heartbeat hasn’t even sped up, Hachiman-kun.”

  After a moment, she let go. Mimicking his posture, Kushida leaned on the railing too. Her usual angelic expression had vanished, repced by a cold gaze that pierced into his lifeless eyes.

  “How could anyone be moved by such a fake act? I actually prefer you the way you are now.”

  Even though she knew he had seen her true nature, Kushida still wore her angel mask around him. That was pointless. He would never be moved by something so fake.

  To love something you knew was false—you’d have to be an idiot.

  “Don’t say dumb things. I’ve looked in the mirror; I know how ugly I look like this.” Kushida gave a twisted smile. “Like a lunatic in an asylum.”

  At that moment, she even felt like jumping into the sea—not to die, but perhaps the freezing water could help cool her inner rage.

  She had worked so hard—helping Hachiman, putting on her best self in front of him. Today, she had come to take care of him, hoping to show her good side.

  Even though she didn’t like Hachiman, she still wanted to be liked by him. And if she could extract some bckmail material from him, all the better.

  But clearly, Hachiman felt nothing for her—unlike the way he clearly reacted to Ichinose.

  “I hate you, Hachiman.”

  Kushida kicked the railing hard. The pain from the impact reminded her of her middle school days when she used to self-harm.

  “Every time I put on my cute act in front of the other cssmates and then see you, I remember that you know the real me.”

  “And then I can’t help but think—do I look like a circus clown in your eyes, desperately seeking praise with such a ridiculous performance?”

  “Ahhh—how ugly I must seem.”

  It was as if she had vented everything out. To Hachiman’s eyes, Kushida now looked empty of madness—like an inanimate object fused with the railing.

  “Sorry,” he said. At this point, all he could do was apologize.

  But there were still things that needed to be said. It might be arrogant to assume saying them would make her understand, but if he said nothing, there’d be no chance of her understanding at all.

  “I’ve never looked down on you. Actually, I’ve always thought you were amazing. If I had to smile at idiots like Yamauchi and Ike, I’d rather just get beaten up.”

  “I know how hard it is to gain others’ trust. I know how much you’ve worked for it. Even if your efforts have been a bit misguided, there’s no doubt that you’ve worked harder than Horikita or me.”

  “Everyone has two sides. Horikita, behind the scenes, has someone she can act spoiled around. And I’ve once wrapped myself in bandages in an empty room and role-pyed as the 'Dark Fme Master with the Cursed Eye of Camity.' You’re not that different from anyone else.”

  “...Heh, even that bitch Horikita knows how to act spoiled, huh?” Kushida smirked. She seemed to hate Horikita even more than she disliked him—girls' retionships really are terrifying.

  Kushida was like a ticking time bomb, and it seemed to be getting worse faster than he expected. Still, since he had used her, it was also his duty to protect her.

  “Next month, when the school distributes points, I’ll have the two million needed. If you want, you can transfer to Css B early.”

  Originally, the pn had been for her to transfer after summer break, but since the pressure in Css D was getting to her, an early transfer didn’t really make much difference.

  He’d just advance her the points himself for now—Ichinose would pay them back anyway.

  “What about you? When are you transferring to Css B?”

  “I might not transfer. That’s what I’m thinking for now.”

  “What?!” Kushida was shocked. “If you don’t transfer, how is Css B supposed to beat Css A?”

  She had friends in all four first-year csses and had collected a steady stream of intel. She had a good sense of which css was strongest.

  Even though Css B’s students were all at least passing academically, Css A was stronger. They also had more athletic types.

  In terms of leadership, Sakayanagi from Css A seemed far superior. Ichinose, in her opinion, was about the same level as Katsuragi.

  “I’ll help Css B with strategy, but I can’t guarantee they’ll win. At least for now, they have a better chance than Css D.”

  “Css B it is then. But I’ll wait until after summer break to transfer,” Kushida said as she walked away from the railing toward the dorm. “Let me see what you can do in the special exam during summer.”

  It was common knowledge among second- and third-years that there’d be a special test during summer, but for the first-years, it was a secret.

  Kushida was secretly working hard to gather information even in unnoticed corners.

  “Done kicking the railing? Feel better now?” Hachiman walked faster to catch up with her.

  “If it were your face I was kicking, I’d feel better.”

  “You wish.”

  .

  .

  .

  When he returned to his dorm, Ichinose had already left. But the previously messy room was now clean—the books were neatly put back on the shelf, and even the bnket had been folded.

  On the small dining table y a pair of gray branded swim trunks, neatly id out. On top of them was a white note.

  [If possible, please invite me to go swimming with you next time. ??]

  The note featured Ichinose’s neat handwriting, along with a cute cartoon smiley face.

  “You’re such a kid, Ichinose,” Hachiman muttered.

  Silently folding the note and putting it away, he picked up the swim trunks Ichinose had bought him.

  The fabric felt smooth and refined—it was clearly not cheap.