You Don't Trust Her Back

AYANOKOJI POV

After I confirmed that Amasawa was no longer following Kei, I decided to go back to the dorm. But before I got out of the mall, I ran into another interesting fellow, who I believed was about to go out also.

He was looking normal once again.

Unlike me who came here in the Keyaki mall just to tail someone, it seems like he only came here to shop just like any normal student would do. No, it's actually not that normal, cause he was carrying something that isn't common for most students during holidays who goes out to eat and have fun in the mall. Instead, his look kinda reminds me of someone. A loner like Horikita.

I intended not to talk with him, but it would be very unnatural.

"Good afternoon. You're looking like you're about to cook something."

"Good afternoon Ayanokoji senpai."

Same as usual, Utomiya was acting like a well mannered student.

"I just took the advice of Horikita senpai not to eat those unhealthy foods again and learn to cook for myself."

"Oh. How obedient of you."

Just hearing his answer, I could already imagine Horikita scolding him during that Christmas dinner of them that made it unromantic.

"Want me to tell Horikita about this? She would be very glad hearing that you really took her advice."

"It's not necessary at all."

Not necessary huh.

"How about you Ayanokoji senpai? You seemed alone and you don't look like you were here to shop."

I wondered what his reaction would be if I told him the whole truth.

"Just met with someone."

"I see..... Then, are you free right now?"

Ohh. It seemed like he wanted to talk a little bit longer.

"Can we talk?"

I somewhat had an idea of what our conversation will be about.

Well, I think it's not that bad to agree. It's time to learn more about him.

"Do you want to talk here?"

"I don't particularly mind if we will talk here, but is it okay with you?"

So, he's leaving the decision to me. No, his question made me feel like he wanted to know something.

"I get the feeling that it should be private though."

"Somewhat."

Somewhat huh.

Since we're already near the exit, Utomiya and I decided to go out of the mall.

We sat on a bench. Students don't usually pass by this area, so this location was quite good.

"So, what is this thing that you wanted to talk about?"

As I decided to start the conversation and asked him, he then looked at me.

"Do you really not know senpai? Though that was only yesterday, I was actually thinking that Horikita senpai already told you."

How bold of him to open up about that topic without any hesitation.

So, he wasn't afraid huh. Or him talking to me right now was him trying to make his name completely clear from my suspicions.

"Did you tell her to tell everything to me immediately?"

"I did not. But judging from her expression yesterday, it was telling me that she wanted to share the information to you right after she arrived at the dorm."

I bet what he saw was similar to that scary expression Horikita showed me when she was interrogating me.

"You did not tell her that I knew that you were a participant of that bounty exam. Why?"

"But her attitude yesterday was also telling me that you also did not tell her until now. Why is it senpai?"

He was trying to avoid my question and returned it to me instead.

"How about you answer me first."

He looked away upon hearing what I said.

"..... Well, the truth is...... because I believed that there's a reason why you did not tell her?....... I didn't want to say it and ruin your intentions. You can also think that it was my way of not involving myself and not destroying your relationship with her. I thought that it was better if you would be the one to tell and explain everything to her."

His answer sounded so kind. But he was actually passing the baton to me and made me explain to Horikita instead.

Though I was only haftly expecting him to mention Tsukishiro, I already made up a lie in advance for Horikita just in case.

If Amasawa did not give a hint that Utomiya was one of the enforcers, I probably wouldn't know if he was telling the truth or not.

Though Amasawa did not say it straight that Utomiya was one of them, the probability that she really knew who I was thinking when I wanted her to confirm my suspicions was high as she was also present when I saw Utomiya take down Housen in the forest.

She probably knew that it was one that triggered my suspicions of him.

"That was kind of you. But you telling her or not doesn't make any difference though."

We both know the identity of each other so I think there's no need for me to hide that much anymore.

I bet Utomiya already had a bit of understanding of Horikita. He already knows how sharp she is, so even if he did not say anything about me knowing it all along, she would still be suspicious of me.

"Was she that angry?"

"Sort of."

Since both of us became quiet, he turned his head towards me and looked at me once again.

I know it was supposed to be my turn of answering him, but I decided not to say anything.

"It seems like you don't want to say the reason why you did not tell her about you knowing that I was a participant since first semester."

Cause you already know it.

"Then, would you mind if I'll say it myself?"

When he said that, I looked at him for the first time since we sat here.

Since my eyes were telling him to continue, he once again opened his mouth and asked.

"You don't trust Horikita senpai, do you?"

I was a bit surprised by what he asked. I thought that he would say that it was because I was hiding something from her but it seems like he wanted to know something even deeper.

"After the training camp, I thought that Horikita senpai seems to trust you. No, I think out of everyone, she trusts you the most. But it seems like you don't trust her back..... Aren't you being unfair senpai?"

I know that I have a bit of trust issues with Horikita, but that wasn't really the main reason why I'm hiding my identity to her and to anyone. It's the existence of the white room was what I'm really trying to hide.

Outsiders should not know about it or else that man.......

Utomiya should know about it.

But what intrigued me the most was the look of his eyes. It's as if he was giving me a hint, and he was telling me that I should get what he really wanted to say.

Was he telling me that I should trust Horikita from now on?

As I was debating what he really wanted to say, Utomiya stood up.

"You don't actually have to answer me senpai. I was only saying my thoughts. And since you were almost being silent in this entire conversation, I'll just take it as it was something personal that I shouldn't know about..... Then, I'm gonna go ahead, Ayanokoji senpai."

"Did you really think that I was able to get what you really wanted to say?

He started walking but I stopped him as I asked that.

"....... Hopefully yes."

There was a small pause before he answered.

Utomiya then left while carrying his plastic bag full of raw ingredients.

Our conversation just now made me think that what Amasawa said that he wasn't really my enemy was true.

He only tried to expel me once and it wasn't even serious. After that, he was just being a normal student who wanted to reach class A.

It was like Utomiya was only taking advantage of the Facility wanting me expelled and took this chance to escape the white room instead.

Did the facility choose the wrong students to expel me? It seemed like the two of them were not afraid of disobeying the white room orders.

Though that 'not now' that Amasawa said was quite a worry.

No, I should not worry about it for now as I have to look for that real threat, that other white room student who was really trying to expel me. That person was quite good at being able to hide itself until now.

UTOMIYA POV

Before I turned to a corner, I took a glance at Ayanokoji, and he was still sitting on the bench. No sign of him leaving yet.

Judging from his last question, I believed he got a bit of understanding of what I really wanted to say. Now, I hope he will really do it. But because I still don't know his whole personality and what type of person he was, I actually don't know if it would be successful.

Well, the decision was on him.

As I turned on another corner, I got startled by an appearance of a girl, who I believed was waiting for me.

"Hi, Utomiya."

She said that while having an evil grin on her face.

"Is there something that you need Amasawa?"

"Yep, I'm here to get my thank you."

What was this girl talking about?

I started walking and walked past her.

Shortly after, Amasawa started walking also.

"So, a 'thank you' is enough for you in exchange for my request. Are you being generous now?"

I thought that she would walk behind me, taking a distance from me like usual, but surprisingly, she was actually walking beside me.

"No way in hell. I already have a perfect favor in my mind in exchange for that request of yours."

"Then, I don't think I owe you a thank you."

Amasawa let out a small laugh.

"But you are."

We already reached the main road. Couple of students were walking on the way to Keyaki Mall or back to the dorm. But despite this, Amasawa did not take her distance and was still walking beside me.

"I thought you don't like to be seen talking with me. What happened?"

"Maybe because I find you interesting recently?...... and you see..... I'm not hiding anything anymore."

Her second reason made my feet stop moving.

Could it be.....

Ayanokoji said that he met with someone in the Keyaki Mall before we bump into each other.

And she said she's not hiding anything anymore.

This girl. She definitely exposed her identity to Ayanokoji.

Upon noticing that I was standing still, Amasawa turned around to face me with a smirk on her face and was hiding both of her hands behind her.

"You're looking like you already get it."

"You even went to that extent?"

"Your face was telling me that it does not give you any trouble at all. Are you sure you shouldn't think that much about it?"

Trouble?

"Didn't Ayanokoji see you take down Housen in the forest? I believe he was suspecting you because of it. So..... I'm assuming that he's about to get you investigated..... or maybe he's done it already?"

Somehow, I could already think where this is going.

"Are you saying....."

I then took a step towards her.

"... you inserted yourself in the middle of my business?"

And I took another step.

"Ohh. You sure you're okay showing that scary face of yours in public?"

I, who wasn't able to keep my cool after knowing what she did, started calming myself down.

If I won't, I might not be able to hold myself back and cause a scene here.

No wonder, Ayanokoji was behaving differently towards me a while ago, that instead of making excuses, he wasn't even speaking that much as he already knew my identity.

"Though I'm fine taking you on here and then."

Amasawa then moved her hands on her sides, making herself on guard.

As I felt that I already put my emotions back in place, I moved myself closer to Amasawa and spoke in a low voice.

"Why are you acting like you already know the way he thinks? If you want to be reckless, stop dragging me."

"Dragging you? I even saved your ass from him."

"Saving me? For me it looks like you were saving yourself."

Amasawa laughed.

"Well, I can't deny that. But let me tell you. Me exposing myself to Ayanokoji was already set in stone from the start. And I believed he's gonna use someone else to investigate you.... Someone like, Horikita Suzune?.... And his excuse will be about you being a participant of that bounty exam. And you who wasn't afraid of exposing small details about the white room, especially to her, will tell about the involvement of Tsukishiro, am I right?"

Well, it already happened.

"Definitely, it will make you look like a normal student after that, but the moment I exposed myself to him, it will only lead to Ayanokoji suspecting you even more. Thinking that you were just like me, a fearless enforcer who's not afraid to give out small information about the white room just to hide your identity in order to expel him. No, he might even think that you're someone dangerous and more fearless than me as you said it to an outsider like Horikita. And before you know it, he's already making his move to expel you."

"How much did you tell him about me?"

"You mean 'that'? Relax. I did not. I only said that you're not his enemy."

"And you think he's gonna believe that?"

"Well, that depends on your future movements. But it's not like it's not true."

I don't know what I should feel from her interventions.

"Don't tell me you also told him about Yagami?"

"That's right. I diverted his attention towards Yagami."

"I don't think he would be happy knowing that."

"I bet he would be thrilled instead and thank me."

As I thought that our conversation was already done. I then started walking.

"You're just gonna leave like that? Where's my thanks? I'm being generous here."

"You're the one who benefited from it more, not me. In fact, you used us to protect yourself from him by serving as his information network about us."

After I said that, I walked away. But before it, I could hear her laugh.

Authors Note:I actually felt that my writing became lazier and lazier than before. I hope you still get my story and still enjoying it.

But thank you for reading.