Won't Hesitate to Protect

UTOMIYA POV

Third semester started. An hour had passed since we arrived at our destination where our all year level special exam will happen.

A week before we were sent here, we were instructed to form a team with the other year level. And since 2nd year class D and our class had a cooperative relationship, we decided to form a team the day when the exam was announced.

Further instructions were announced when we arrived at the training camp. Each team should break into two groups and each group will live in separate buildings. The only time we could see the other group was when we had our lunch and dinner.

I was called by Horikita to submit our list of students in each group. She also called Hirata and Ayanokoji. Though Sudo wasn't called, he invited himself in the group. Horikita did not mind it though and just let him stay.

"This is the list I made for our class."

Horikita showed us the list. My eyes silently scanned the names of students listed where Ayanokoji was in. Good thing, I found the name that I was looking for. It seems like I don't have to do anything just to make Ayanokoji and Karuizawa to be in the same group.

I once made a promise to Amasawa that I'll make sure that Ayanokoji and Karuizawa will be in the same group in this exam for her to agree to my request that she's gonna postpone her plan of exposing their relationship to the public. Though she said that I'll hear her answer now, I already knew that she accepted my request. If she doesn't like the request, she will immediately say no, but when she says that she'll need to think about it, most of the time, her answer is yes.

"Wait Horikita, why are you and Yosuke in the same group? Aren't you supposed to be separated? We also need a leader in our group."

Ayanokoji complained upon seeing the list while Sudo was looking sad that he did not belong to Horikita's group.

"I need Hirata-kun on my side. He will serve as my communication link not just to our class but to our third year teammate also."

"Then who's going to be our leader?"

"I know that you don't like to stand out so you can choose Yukimura-kun as your group leader. Just give him some advice."

"Me, giving advice?"

Upon hearing that, Horikita sighed and looked at him with a done look.

"Stop acting dumb Ayanokoji-kun. You know what I mean."

Ayanokoji then became quiet. Hirata was only smiling. Sudo also does not seem to be surprised.

So all of these guys already had a grasp of Ayanokoji's abilities to a certain extent.

"Karuizawa-san and Kushida-san are also in your group so you won't have trouble communicating with the other classes. Is that right Horikita-san?"

Horikita then nodded in response to Hirata.

"And you know the reason why I can't be in the same group with those girls right? I don't think we could properly communicate."

"And you think we get along?"

"You don't?"

Horikita was asking Ayanokoji in a suspicious manner.

He did not answer.

Does Horikita know about Ayanokoji and Karuizawa's relationship?

I wondered. Hirata was also looking like he knew while Sudo was completely lost.

"Just like last year's training camp, we had some physical activities like running, so I had to divide our physically strong students evenly."

So that means.

"Utomiya-kun and Hirata-kun will be on our side while Sudo-kun and you, Ayanokoji-kun will be in the other group."

And that made me part of Horikita's group.

Our discussion was done. We were walking towards our group when I heard Horikita talking to Ayanokoji behind us.

"Ayanokoji-kun, I'm gonna leave the other group to you. Please look out for them."

So that's the reason why she assigned him to the other side. While she and Hirata will focus on our side, she leaves everything about the other group to Ayanokoji.

She really trusts his skills huh.

UTOMIYA POV

It's our 3rd day in training camp. Selected students from each group were getting out from their bed at 5 a.m. early in the morning and that includes me, as we were assigned to cook for breakfast.

"This is just too early....."

"Stop complaining and start doing your assigned task already."

Horikita then gave the sleepy Ike, who was yawning beside me a knife.

Ike was peeling the vegetables with a sleepy face.

"Ike-kun, be careful."

"Yeahhh...."

"Ike-kun, wake up already. If you won't be careful, you might get hurt."

"I know, I know. I'm trying my best here to fully wake up. Geez... stop scolding me."

Ike then started peeling the vegetables with energy. Maybe he does not realize it, but Horikita always trying to call his attention was the reason why he's fully awake now.

While doing my work, I also took a glance at Horikita's culinary skills.

Her culinary skill is really impressive.

Though the majority of the students were doing their job as we only had less than 2 hours to cook and to prepare everything, there were also useless students who were only sitting on the sides.

Housen and Ryuen really woke up this early but did not even bother to lift a finger.

Thirty minutes before seven and we were done cooking. We were in the process of preparing the food in the cafeteria and cleaning our trash.

"Utomiya-kun please help Hirata-kun okay."

"Okay senpai."

"Ike-kun, come with me and let's gather some dry branches for tomorrow's assigned cooks."

It was part of our job to gather new branches so that the assigned students to cook for breakfast the next day won't have a problem as it's hard to collect branches at 5 a.m. in the forest cause it's still dark.

"Huh!.. Why me? Can't you bring Hirata instead?"

"Hirata-kun is needed here to look for the students. Now, stop complaining and come with me."

Horikita then grabbed Ike's arm and forcibly dragged him.

"Why is Ken not here anyway?"

Ike said that while wearing a sour expression on his face.

As they entered the forest, I saw a troublesome person following them. If he wasn't alone, I might think that he's also about to collect some dry branches. But his face was definitely telling me that he's up to something bad.

"Hirata senpai...."

Feeling worried, I turned to Hirata to ask permission to follow them. But unexpectedly, he was also looking in the direction where I was looking.

"Are you gonna follow them?"

"Ah.. yes. I just thought that there might be something bad that's going to happen."

"I also think and I want to follow them too but I also can't leave my work here. It's almost time before breakfast after all. Can you follow them for me?"

"Okay senpai."

"Just don't do something that might harm you or our team, okay."

Though he looked more worried than I am, he gave me permission to follow them alone instead.

I silently followed Housen behind who was following Horikita and Ike also.

Unfortunately, I felt like I was followed too.

I stopped walking when Housen suddenly talked to them. Horikita was glaring at him while Ike looked scared.

They've been exchanging words only for a moment, then Horikita starts collecting branches again. Ike couldn't concentrate on his job while his eyes were only on Housen.

Housen approached Horikita once again.

What are they talking about?

I silently started walking towards them.

"I don't know what you're talking about Housen."

"No, ya definitely know what I'm talkin'."

"Even if he is my classmate, I still don't know that much about him."

"Stop lying. Ya can't fool me. You're always with him, so whatever you're saying doesn't make sense."

"If you're really that obsessed with Ayanokoji, how about you ask him directly."

So he's being curious about Ayanokoji huh.

Horikita turned around and ignored Housen. As she was about to walk away. Housen grabbed her arm by his left hand. Horikita then dropped the branches that she was carrying.

"I'm still talkin' to you bitch, so don't try'na ignore me."

"Ah.... wait, Housen.... Y-You don't have to do that."

Ike said that while hugging the branches that he's carrying.

As I saw that he was being violent, I slowly approached him from behind, not caring about the people following me.

Ike and Horikita saw me but they were only staring at me, confused.

I then put my right hand on Housen's left shoulder, then placed two of my fingers just above his armpit.

Housen turned his head towards me, who was behind him, looking confused. But before he could see my face, his face then showed an expression that he was in pain as I strongly pressed my fingers on his pressure point that made his hand go numb. As I saw that his grip loosened from Horikita's arm, I then kicked his lower legs that made him fell hard on the ground.

"Woah."

Ike then jumped a little as he saw what I did. Horikita was only looking at Housen who was on the ground and couldn't speak a word.

"Shit, what are you doing bastard?"

Housen asked that as he looked at me while still on the ground.

"How about you? What are you doing to our group leader, Housen? Surely you aren't gonna use violence that could make her resign."

"I was only asking her."

"Asking? Do you ask while grabbing the arm of who you're asking?"

"It has nothing to do with ya."

"It does."

"Wait, let's stop fighting or we could get some demerits and lose points."

Horikita said that in worry, thinking that we might cause more trouble.

"Kuku, so it was you who was behind that power during the sports festival's four way tug of war."

The two 2nd year students who were following me finally showed themselves.

Ryuen stood not that far from me with Albert on his side.

"What are you doing here Ryuen-kun?"

"And why I shouldn't? I just wanted to confirm something and guess I was right when I saw that interesting moves a while ago right before my eyes."

What did he mean by that?

"I didn't want to believe that Ayanokoji was the one responsible when you won the second round of the four way tug of war considering how he was staying low all this time. So it was you all along."

Even though Ryuen looked at me, I did not speak.

"Staying low?"

Ryuen then looked down and turned his attention towards Housen.

"That's right muscle-head. So instead of hitting a girl by trying to know his abilities. I'll give you the answer myself. You will never defeat Ayanokoji. Now, to prove yourself that you indeed have a brain, try to understand that."

So this Ryuen guy also got a taste of Ayanokoji huh.

"What's happening right now and why am I here anyway?"

Ike who was watching us, muttered that and was still hugging his collected branches,

"Anyway.... "

Ryuen then gave me a quick glance then immediately looked at Horikita.

"You sure do attract strong guys Suzune. Since Ayanokoji already has his own chick, you immediately found someone else. Though I doubt that he's better than Ayanokoji, he could be a better bodyguard as he won't hesitate to protect you and won't wait that something bad should happen to you first before saving you."

"What are you even saying?"

"Kukuku. Though I think you only attract them as they have something after you."

He really said that. I was worried that Ayanokoji might be the one who would expose my intentions and warn Horikita about me, but I guess there were a few here in this school that had good instincts and intuition too.

AYANOKOJI POV

Thirty minutes before seven, me, together with some of my selected group mates were cleaning the utensils that we used from cooking breakfast.

Kei and her friends were talking happily until a first year student approached her.

"Karuizawa senpai."

Kei got startled from Amasawa's sudden appearance on her side.

"W-what?"

"I was assigned to gather some dry branches from the forest. Can you help me?"

"Huh?... w-why does it have to be me? C-can you find someone else?"

"But my group mates are doing something else."

"Well... I'm also doing my work here. Can't you see?"

"But I'm actually asking you cause I'm not close with anyone but you."

Amasawa then showed a pitiful look and said that to Kei in a sweet voice.

"Karuizawa-san, we didn't know you're close to a first year student."

"Eh?"

Karuizawa then turned her head towards Matsushita and Shinohara.

"Yeah. We were always together and I don't remember you talking to her or any first year student."

"Where did you meet anyway?"

Amasawa then showed a smile as she heard Matsushita's question and found an opening to corner Kei.

"Well, we met at ......"

Before Amasawa could complete her sentence, Kei immediately covered her mouth. Though she was smiling, you could see fear from her eyes. She must be worried that Amasawa might tell something about us.

"Haha..haha.... W-Well, it's actually a long story. L-Let's go Amasawa-san. It's almost time before breakfast."

Kei then hurriedly dragged Amasawa away.

"It's kinda surprising to see Karuizawa-san act like that."

"Is she hiding something from us?"

Her friends were confused by her sudden change of behavior.

Before they could reach the forest, Amasawa then looked back and was smiling evilly. It's as if she was inviting me to come. She probably knew that I was looking at them.

No, that smile was definitely telling me that if I don't come, something bad will happen to Kei. She already hurt her physically during the sports festival, and I wouldn't be surprised if she will do that again.

I sighed.

"What is she after anyway?"

I then followed them into the forest.

There, I saw them picking up some dry branches.

Unlike what I thought, she wasn't hurting Kei but instead, she was turning her into her slave.

"Wha-... Amasawa-san. Can't you hold your own collected branches? Why are you giving everything to me?"

"Just keep your mouth shut and do your job senpai."

"This is supposed to be your job, not mine."

"My, my. Are you seriously saying this senpai? You know what might happen if you make me angry right?"

Kei then became quiet. Amasawa really blackmailed her perfectly.

"You know, your friends are just meters away. Or should I say..... the whole student body is just meters away. And you're quite popular right? So the news would definitely spread easily."

Kei couldn't speak a word and was only standing motionless.

Knowing her, she would definitely obey Amasawa just to protect her secret.

No, just remembering what happened on the rooftop a year ago, she would do anything just to keep the secret, thinking it was for my sake.

This is bad. If I won't do anything and stop it here, Amasawa giving orders to Kei and making a slave out of her would continue at the school.

I decided to take action before that happens and approached them.

Before Amasawa could put the branch that she picked to Kei's arms, I grabbed it. Though Kei was surprised by my sudden appearance, Amasawa did not even flinch as if she expected this to happen.

"Kiyotaka? What are you doing here?"

I then took all the branches that Kei was carrying.

"You should go back, Kei. Let me do this."

"But-..."

"Just listen to me."

Kei then followed what I said and went back to the camp.

As I saw that she's no longer in our sight, I then turned my head to Amasawa and stared at her in the eyes.

"Ohh... you look scary senpai. Why are you glaring at me?"

"Amasawa, I'll cut the unnecessary conversation and get straight to the point. You better stop what you're planning against Kei, or sooner or later you will find yourself out of this school."

"Is that perhaps a warning, senpai?"

"No, this is a threat."

Though I was wearing a serious expression and was threatening her, she was not even scared. It's as if she already saw my cold eyes for a couple of times and experienced this threatening atmosphere in the past.

Suddenly, Amasawa walked past me and was looking far away behind me. She was acting like I did not threaten her just a second ago. I then followed her line of sight and saw a couple of students.

These students were part of the other group and were living at the other building not that far from us.

Housen kept on following Horikita while she was collecting dry branches. Ike was only looking at Housen, scared.

As Horikita tried to escape from Housen, he grabbed her arm. If she takes one wrong move, Housen would definitely hurt her.

What does he want from her anyway?

As I thought that something terrible would happen to Horikita, I then saw Utomiya slowly approaching Housen from behind.

After he put his hand on Housen's shoulder, Housen then showed an expression like he was in pain.

Was his grip that strong?

After a moment, Utomiya took down Housen by kicking his lower legs.

That kick. It was definitely strong. I wouldn't be surprised if it leaves a bruise.

"Ohh... that guy is a good fighter."

Amasawa praised Utomiya after seeing what happened.

I know that he's physically strong as he was a former athlete. But to do that stunt, he could have studied martial arts before.

After seeing what happened, I once again thought that he could be the white room student...... or he's just one of those excellent people in this world just like Koenji and Sakayanagi.

Authors Note:I'm not good at making special exams so don't expect something. I'm only gonna write their interactions during the exams, for story purposes.

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed it😊😊