Trust Your Intuition More

HORIKITA POV

It's tuesday. Second week since the school year started and it's been a week that I was monitored by Utomiya-kun by staying in my room after our duty in the council. All for the sake of me not meeting with Ayanokoji-kun secretly.

I let out a deep sigh upon seeing his shoes in my shoe closet again.

The place and a portion of my time when I could be alone was taken away from me. Though nothing much was changed as he only feels like an ornament inside my room. He doesn't speak and was mostly motionless while reading his book. 

That's why I was still doing my daily routine as if I'm alone. I cooked my dinner, ate alone and went to study afterwards.

The only thing that changed was me changing my clothes in the bathroom.

I stepped inside of my room and saw Utomiya-kun lying on my bed. But he wasn't reading a book and was just closing his eyes while wearing his earphones and was listening to music, just like what he did yesterday.

I wonder if he's asleep.

I didn't bother doing it yesterday but... should I check it?

I went closer to him and took a closer look at his face.

His face looks-......

He...... doesn't look like he was sleeping at all. I mean, who sleeps with such a proper face like that?

He was probably sensing what I was doing and wasn't really sleeping.

I snapped my fingers twice near his face but he did not respond. 

Trying to play a lifeless object again huh.

Though he wasn't a complete bother to me, I still hated the fact that he was invading my privacy. I still hated that him staying here changed even just a little of my daily routine.

No. I think I hated that I was controlled by him.

If his intention was just to monitor me, then I think I have to stay loyal to my everyday life.

After putting down my bag, I went to my cabinet and took a change of clothes.

Instead of going to the bathroom, I just turned my back from the sleeping Utomiya-kun and started unbuttoning my blazer and took it off. 

Next was my blouse.

Just when I was able to take off my blouse and was about to unzip my skirt, I heard Utomiya-kun moving.

Upon hearing it, I immediately turned my head on my right and tried to take a peek at him. It wasn't because I was afraid that I'll be seen in my underwear by him but because I wanted to confirm how keen his senses are and if he was responding because of me.

Utomiya-kun turned his back on me and was facing the wall. He was then fiddling on his phone or should I say, he was increasing the volume of what he's listening to.

Hmpf. So he wasn't really sleeping and was keeping the volume of his music down to keep his attention on my movements.

*****************

After cooking and eating my dinner, I went to study like usual.

I was thirsty so I went and took a glass of water in the kitchen.

Upon returning to the living area, I was surprised when I saw Utomiya-kun standing, looking like he was about to leave. I checked the clock on the wall and saw that it was still half past seven in the evening. It was still twenty minutes before 7:50 p.m., his usual time to leave before the clock hits the curfew for the visiting hours of the boys in the girls dorm.

He only looked at me with a slightly irritated expression.

"Are you going to leave already?"

"What? You don't want me to?"

"I would be pleased instead."

After I replied to him, I walked towards my study table.

"Anyway."

My feet stopped moving when he suddenly talked.

I glanced at him and saw his very serious expression.

"You carelessly put your guard down a while ago."

"Huh?"

"Did you just underestimate us men?"

I turned to face him as he took a step towards me. I don't know why but I suddenly put my guard up.

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? So you did that without knowing the possible consequences?"

He took a step again.

And again.

Then there's me taking a step backward whenever he moves his body so close to me until I stumbled to the table. A little amount of water was spilled from the glass.

"Can you just stay away?"

Because my right hand was holding a glass of water, I used my left hand to push Utomiya-kun away.

Of course, he only grabbed my hand with ease.

Just remembering how he took down Housen, I know it's futile to use force against him.

"Let go of my hand?"

Instead of responding, he only stared at me.

"What do you want?"

"You should consider yourself lucky tonight, Horikita. If I did not choose to hold back, you would have been a girl who just lost her dignity by now."

"..... I-I mean .... you-."

"Did you perhaps think that I can't do it?"

Did I? 

No. It wasn't like that.

"Men will always be men. Even I can do it. After all......."

Upon saying that, his eyes wandered across my face. It travelled from my eyes, to my nose, then to my lips.

Shortly after, he tilted his head slightly as if he wanted to have a closer look. Then his eyes slowly went down to my neck, then to my shoulder and to my arm.

After that, he made eye contact with me and said,

"...... It's not like I'm on the losing side."

Wha-. What did he mean by that?

But this guy, just a second ago, he....... he just looked at me with dirty eyes.

"You-... don't you even think-."

"Consider that as a warning."

I stopped talking when he suddenly let go of my hand and interrupted me.

The uneasy feeling slowly disappeared when he took his distance away from me.

"For you to go to that extent, you must badly want your privacy back."

It wasn't my intention but he took my action just a while ago as me trying to drive him away.

"Fine. I'll stop coming here starting tomorrow."

"Eh?"

Did he just say something nice?

After what happened a moment ago, my mind was doubting my ears if I heard it correctly.

"But it wasn't because your strategy was a success but it's because I decided to make the first move."

"First move?"

"Of showing trust."

And then, he said something more unbelievable.

"What do you mean?...... Why?"

"Let's just say that I agree with what you said before."

With what I said before?

"That trust shouldn't be one-sided."

He then looked straight into my eyes and said.

"So I'm expecting you to trust me back, Horikita."

"Trusting me first? Aren't you just passing the baton to me?"

"It's up to you on how you interpret my decision. But it still did not change the fact that I'm going to disobey their order of monitoring you just to show my trust in you."

After he said that, he started walking to the door but stopped halfway and talked without looking at me.

"Anyway. I suggest you change your clothes in the bathroom from now on."

Huh? What for?

HORIKITA POV

It's the third day since Utomiya-kun stopped coming into my room. 

He must be preparing for his plan of expelling Ayanokoji-kun but strangely, I couldn't sense him doing anything at all.

Was he waiting for my decision? 

Probably.

Since he stopped monitoring me, I had a lot of chances to formulate a plan with Ayanokoji-kun, but I also did nothing.

I thought that I wanted to say everything to Ayanokoji-kun and asked for help but somehow....... a big part of me was hesitating.

If I really wanted to, I could have thought of ways just to meet with him secretly. But this certain 'hesitation' of mine was making me not use any tiny bit of effort.

I wonder why.

As if I already know it, an answer popped up in my head. But my heart immediately disagreed with it.

It's like they were fighting against each other....... The main reason why until now I couldn't reach a firm decision.

"It appears you still haven't talked with him."

As I was sorting out my feelings, Utomiya-kun suddenly appeared in front of my desk and was holding documents.

It's actually just the two of us in the office as Ichinose-san and the other members are working with something else outside.

Ichinose-san offered that she will be the one who will work with Utomiya-kun as we still appeared a bit awkward for them but I refused and told her that we're okay.

Wait. What did Utomiya-kun just ask?

Confused by what I heard, I looked at him, who was waiting for my answer.

"What are you talking about?"

He did not answer and was just letting me recall what he said.

"........ Are you talking about Ayanokoji-kun?"

"Who else could it be?"

He said that while putting the finished documents on my desk.

"What's this? You told me that you're expecting me to reciprocate your trust but you're actually expecting that I will betray you."

"Probably. It might have been considered as betrayal at first but that's not the case now. In fact, I'm fine if you're gonna talk with him. No, you should talk with him."

"For you to say this. Are you plotting something else?"

"Not really. I just thought that you needed it."

Just when he said that, he looked at me as if saying he got it right.

Well, he's not wrong.

"You look so lost, Horikita. Find some answers from him if you want. I won't stop you."

"When you stopped monitoring me, were you trying to give me time and place to speak with Ayanokoji-kun?"

"You told me that you're looking at the both of us on equal ground, so there's no way that you only want to hear my side. Basically, you talking to him will happen anyway. Doing everything to stop you is just a waste of time and energy."

He was saying those words as if he won't face any trouble at all. That letting me talk with Ayanokoji-kun freely won't backfire. 

Why is it?

"Moreover, pulling you on our side by force won't guarantee that it won't backfire. You're the key for this plan to be one hundred percent successful and I can't put my full trust in you if you're wavering like this. It's better if you get all the answers that you need and finally come to the conclusion of who to side with. It's better if you come to us on your own accord."

"Why are you speaking like-."

I couldn't even complete my question as I already got the answers from his eyes that were full of confidence.

"That's right. I'm confident that even after you heard his side of the story, in the end, you will still choose me." 

Will I?

There was one thing that I found inconsistent from his answer but I was more curious about the reason behind his confidence.

"W-where did you even get that confidence from?"

Suddenly, his eyes became gentle.

"...... From you."

"Me?"

"Just like what you said, I know that you're gonna do what's right........ That's one thing that I trust in you. One thing that I believe in you."

Why is the air that's surrounding him changing when he says that? He feels like the Utomiya that I used to know. That Utomiya Riku who I trusted.

Just like what happened before, I wasn't able to talk because I was confused by this change.

As he was watching me, Utomiya-kun started walking around my desk and went beside me.

My head was only following him as my eyes were only fixed to his eyes.

Upon reaching my side, he put his left hand on the edge of the backrest of the chair that I was sitting on and slowly pulled it away from the table, causing me, who was in dazed, to come back to reality.

"Wh-."

But then, his hand pushed the same edge of the seat that made my chair to rotate on the right. The moment that I was already facing him, he used the same hand to stop the chair by putting it on the side of its armrest.

It happened abruptly that I wasn't able to react.

"....... What are you even doing?"

As if he did not hear me, Utomiya-kun bent his body and moved his face close to mine while he pinned both of my hands that were resting on the chair's armrest.

Facing this uncomfortable situation, I tried to kick his leg but he avoided it easily.

"Relax. I'm not gonna do anything bad. In fact, I'm just trying to give you a friendly suggestion."

"Suggestion?"

"....... You can tell everything to Ayanokoji senpai. From the beginning and even to what happened a few days ago. But except for one thing."

One thing?

He then moved his face much closer, brought his lips close to my right ear and whispered some concerning words.

"Don't tell him about your brother. You will certainly regret it."

My body stiffened upon hearing his suggestion that sounded more like a warning.

"W-what do you mean by that?"

I asked him with a trembling voice when he looked at me once again.

"By the next time you see him, it might be too late."

"T-too late for what?"

"His state of mind might no longer be saved."

"Wha- what's that supposed to mean?"

I was so emotionally unstable that I wasn't even angry that Utomiya-kun's answers were only going in circles.

No, I did not complain as I was unconsciously delaying it as my heart was not prepared for the real answer.

But then.....

"You might not be able to take it seeing him in a suicidal state."

I could hear my heart pounding so hard as I heard those last words.

Suicidal state? My brother? 

No way. There's no way that would happen. My brother's strong. There's just no way that would happen.

"Are you thinking that there's no way that it would happen?"

When he read my mind, I looked at him, not because I was impressed, surprised or confused.

I was looking into his eyes in fear. Scared that they might actually have ways that could really drive my mentally strong brother into such a state.

"That's right. We only started the school year, Horikita. That means we still have enough time to drive your brother into the corner. For them, it's not that hard."

I wanted to believe in my brother. But just by listening to him and by remembering that man who threatened me, I couldn't help but think that it could be possible. Why?

When Utomiya-kun finally freed my hands as he was about to fix his posture, I stopped him as I unconsciously grabbed his blazer near his chest.

I still have more questions.

"Who-."

But then, the door suddenly opened.

Both our heads immediately turned towards the doorway and saw Takahashi-kun, our co-member in the student council, looking embarrassed while watching us.

"...... Ah- . I'm sorry for interrupting.... Sorry."

He then closed the door after apologizing.

Utomiya-kun touched my hand, telling me to let go of him.

He stood straight and told me one last thing while looking at the door.

"Talk with Ayanokoji senpai. Tell him everything but don't even think of telling him about your brother. As someone who's also trapped in this school, he also can't do anything about it. If talking to him only made you confused...... then find the answers from yourself."

"What do you mean?"

As I asked that to him, he gave me a side glance and spoke in a strong tone.

"I'm telling you to trust your intuition more."

With that, he left and walked towards the door to let Takahashi-kun come inside.

Trusting my intuition more. 

My intuition.

Why does it feel like I already found the answer that I needed from that last sentence that he told me?

Hey, Utomiya-kun. You speak cruel words yet sometimes, you deliberately show me the Utomiya that I had once trusted. You tried hard to convince me that I should choose your side but just now, you gave me a crucial hint that I should not.

I could only speak these words in my mind while watching his back. Not sure of who he really is to me.

AYANOKOJI POV

Horikita called me over to her room. It's been two weeks since I waited for her to talk to me as she had been acting strange since the school year started which I believed has something to do with me.

Some of my classmates noticed her change of behavior also and claimed that it was because of jealousy as they noticed that she was avoiding me since the dating rumor.

But unlike them, I know that wasn't the reason..... and she's finally gonna tell it to me now.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know where to start."

Horikita apologized to me as she was silent for a while now since I entered her room. 

But rather saying that she doesn't know where to start, she's looking more like she was trying to be careful what to say. 

"It's okay. Just take your time."

I replied that to her, saying it doesn't bother me at all.

But not really. I was bothered by her expression right now. She's looking more worried than before.

As if telling me that she's emotionally ready, she looked me in the eyes for the first time.

"I won't do the same thing as before and will tell you everything before asking questions from you."

The thing that she was talking about was when she chose not to tell me the information that she got from Utomiya about the bounty exam just to catch me lying and was only suspecting me the whole time which caused us to argue.

She was hoping for this conversation to go smoothly and won't result in an argument.

"Just listen and don't interrupt me. Whatever you hear, just listen and answer only if I asked you to."

After stating her condition, she took a deep breath.

"..... Acting Director Tsukishiro and an unfamiliar man who I believe was an outsider asked me to cooperate with Utomiya-kun...... to expel you."

As expected.

But I didn't think that I would be surprised with what she said. 

I know that Utomiya would ask for her cooperation to expel me and I could see Tsukishiro to involve himself. But for that man to personally talk with Horikita? Is this true?

Or could it be the unfamiliar man that she was able to talk to was actually not my father but someone else that he sent?

As my mind was debating if it's my father or not, Horikita stopped talking and was looking at me intently. She was probably trying to see my reaction.

But upon seeing my face, she only closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. 

Was she perhaps disappointed with my reaction?

"You even looked like you already predicted this."

Glad she told me not to talk as I don't know how to answer her.

"I know you remembered my weird behavior when the school year started. That was actually the time when the acting director called me in a certain meeting room to negotiate with me about your expulsion."

Negotiation? That means.....

"He threatened me that if I won't cooperate with Utomiya-kun to expel you....... he will use his power to demote our class back to class D again and even promised to make this school a mess by fabricating the exam results that would result in mass expulsion."

Threats huh.

That's a pretty good threat considering Horikita's biggest desire to graduate in class A and her big sense of responsibility as the student council president.

That information about her probably came from Utomiya.

".... I thought how unbelievable and unjustifiable it was but the acting director told me that he once did it during your chess match against Sakayanagi-san back in the Event Selection exam which made you lose and you...... actually know it."

She really paused before saying that I know it in perfect pronunciation.

So they also decided to expose my lies. I think I could already see the pattern here.

Horikita continued and said that Tsukishiro won't be afraid to do it again. Though it no longer directed to me but to the entire student body that could lead to mass expulsion. 

But then, Horikita corrected herself and said that Tsukishiro expelling a lot of clueless innocent students already happened since the 2nd uninhabited island exam and would continue this year in order to expel me.

Then she added that I also knew that Tsukishiro purposely broadened the number of students at risk of expulsion just to expel me..... and she's not wrong about it. 

But a lot of students were expelled instead of me, the target.

"The next thing I'll say is something you wouldn't like. It's not an excuse but I did it to confirm my suspicions."

She then told me about her browsing the internet to search if I indeed belong to a powerful and elite clan just like what Utomiya said that even the acting director of this school is working for my family and they were able to send a man inside this school that has a super tight security.

"What I only found was a single article of Ayanokoji Kyojuro on a japanese government website."

After she said that, she stopped again and stared at me but proceeded to let out a sigh again and murmured.

"Trying to see any reaction from you is useless."

That means she couldn't get any information from me if it's true.

Well, considering that I don't know who Ayanokoji Kyojuro is, of course I wouldn't react at all.

Horikita continued and said everything she read from the article and how she thought that the man in the article is my father as I'm the only Ayanokoji in this entire school.

She also added Utomiya's story about the dispute that I have with my family because I ran away from home and went to this school instead of going abroad like my parents desired.

When she told me that I wouldn't like what she's about to say, it was because she thought she investigated my life but I actually don't know what to feel as everything they told her was made up including that fake article that she found online.

That man probably used his connection for that article to be uploaded in a very reliable source like the japanese government website. It was even probably deleted by now since Ayanokoji Kyojuro, mayor of Okayama City, does not really exist.

But then, I found a problem with the next thing that Horikita told me.

She wasn't able to communicate with me immediately as Utomiya kept on coming into her room until curfew and even had a duplicate key of her room just to monitor her.

Then he suddenly stopped this week as he wanted to show to her that he trusts her.

But proceeded to tell her that she should talk with me to find the answers that she needed and it does not affect him at all as he's confident that even after I told her my side, she will still choose him.

It was like she was set in a trap. Utomiya made her believe that her room was the safest place to talk with me but it was actually the most dangerous.

She was lured and it wasn't Utomiya who's really monitoring her but someone else.

I believe someone is actually listening to our conversation right now. Does this mean it's already game over for Horikita?

No. If I won't get rid of it, it's still not over. Probably. 

If I won't tell Horikita about it and let them believe that everything was going smoothly for them, then it's still not over.

When Horikita noticed me who was in deep thought, she asked me.

"Did you think that it was suspicious that Utomiya-kun just let me talk to you freely?"

"..... Sort of."

"...... I think so too...... But I also agree when he said that in the end, I'm gonna find ways to talk to you. That me telling everything that happened to you is inevitable....... Do you know what's the reason for this Ayanokoji-kun?"

Though I did not answer, she knew that I wanted to hear the reason as I looked at her.

"Aside from the reason that this matter revolves around you...... there's no one in this entire school that I can lean on but you, Ayanokoji-kun."

From her pleading eyes, to the words that she said and to her voice. She did not say it explicitly but I could understand what she really wanted to convey. 

She was hoping that I would answer her questions with full honesty.

Trying to appeal before questioning me huh.

But....

What should I do with this? With the situation that she's in... No, with the situation we're probably both in, was it right to tell her the answers that she wanted? Was it right to tell her about my life?

I should probably listen to her questions first and decide afterwards.

"Since you've already heard everything...."

Horikita suddenly stopped and looked away with anxious eyes while biting her lips.

"....... I'm gonna ask questions that I believe will help me make a decision."

Then, are you saying that if you're not satisfied with my answers, you will really help them to expel me?

Horikita, who took a deep breath, made eye contact with me but with probing eyes this time. Though there's still remnants of her anxious expression. 

"..... You know how secure this school is that's why you chose to come here but...... did you know that your family is capable and powerful enough to send their men here?"

And so, her first question already put me in the corner. 

If I say it truthfully, yes would be my answer. Just by thinking of my father, I know that everything would be possible if he wanted to.

"No. Let's change that. Being able to send a man here isn't important at all."

But she wasn't satisfied and wanted to ask a more serious question before I could even answer.

"Did you know that your family is capable of doing those dirty tricks just to retrieve you?"

Now that is indeed a serious one. If I answer 'yes' here, it would already be enough for her to reach a decision.

"....... Didn't I tell you to stop prying into my life?"

As she heard my answer, she only looked at me in disbelief. No, it actually made her angry.

"Seriously, Ayanokoji-kun? You're still saying that despite everything that's happening right now?"

Yes. Probably. 

There's no point in involving yourself too much to me, Horikita. Knowing too much is dangerous, how much more that they are listening to us right now.

Guess I'll have to decide already.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"How should I say this?...... I'm not really close to my parents. I'm always stuck with my instructors all day so I don't know that much about them."

"Unacceptable."

"Unacceptable?"

"You've already displayed your skills of reading people a lot of times and you're gonna tell me that you don't understand your own parents?"

"Well, I've interacted with the students here a lot unlike my parents."

"But you've been living with them your whole life."

"Are you saying that I'm lying here?"

"... Are you really not?"

Not really. It's true that I've been spending my whole life more in the white room with the instructors. But it's also true that I understand my father to a certain extent.

"So what's the point of doing this when you don't even believe me?"

"Cause I know that you are lying.... again."

"And what makes you sure of it?"

"Isn't that the reason why you don't want me to pry into your life? Cause you know that your family does something-."

Horikita suddenly held her tongue as if she didn't have the courage to say it.

"Does something what?"

Horikita only stared at me, still hesitating to say it.

"Say it."

".... L-like..... something illegal? Or..... something bad.... or p-perhaps only associating with bad people?"

Horikita, who was trying not to offend me, answered while stuttering. Not sure if her suspicions were correct.

I couldn't answer immediately as what she's suspecting was actually true. And I know why she was able to predict it.

Utomiya's made up story about me was actually impressive. I was just indeed rebelling to my father and I could already tell Horikita's complaints regarding this matter. 

"You think so?"

But they made a mistake...... and I wondered if it was a deliberate one.

This is...

"They threatened me, Ayanokoji-kun. Do you really want me to believe that they weren't involved in something bad considering all those threats?"

"Maybe so."

"Maybe so?..... Really? That's everything you can say?"

I only listened and did not answer.

".... You and I might have another reason why we chose to enrol in this school at first but all of us came here hoping to find a brighter future...... including those innocent students who got expelled. But their future got robbed the moment they got kicked out..... all because of a family dispute that was taking place in this school that they weren't aware of."

Certainly. This school only became the battleground for me and my father. 

Due to the school policy that was protecting the students, they couldn't get me out of here that easily. And so, they didn't have a choice but to sneak into this school and play with the rules like fabricating the exam results and broadening the students in risk of expulsion.

"And more students will face this fate in the next exam, Ayanokoji-kun."

"So what do you want me to do? Drop out voluntarily?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Saving everyone from the acting director is something I believe we can work for. But please tell me the real reason why you ran away."

"Real reason?..... What made you think that I have another reason?"

"...... Cause I don't want to believe that you only did this out of selfish reasons like rebelling from your parents."

I became quiet when she said that.

"I don't know if you really didn't care for those students who got expelled in your place but...... I want to believe that it was because you didn't have a choice..... That you were running away from your parents because of a more valid reason."

Valid reason huh.

If I tell you it's only because I want to experience a normal high school life, will you consider it valid?

Definitely not.

"Why do you have to know everything about me? Didn't you say that saving the student body is something we can work out? Knowing my reason is not needed at all."

"..... I-it is."

"Why?...... Give me your valid reason too."

Horikita only keeps her mouth shut.

"There's still something that you did not tell me, Horikita."

".... Don't turn the-."

"You're hiding something from me."

She tried to escape by turning the story back to me but I stopped her as I said it once again.

"You look so desperate, Horikita. So desperate that I can't believe that the school's situation was the only reason behind it."

Her goal to graduate in class A and her pride as the student council president were already a good bargaining chip in exchange for my expulsion. I could see her having a hard time choosing but not this desperate.

Even if Utomiya was monitoring her by coming into her room everyday, she would definitely think of ways just to talk to me. But she hesitated.

I don't actually have any idea why Utomiya had to add him but he was definitely the reason behind her hesitation.

Amasawa told me that Utomiya certainly won't harm Horikita. Her emotional state should be one of it, that means he has to include her family's safety.

Utomiya probably told her not to talk about him to me. He must even be listening right now for assurance.

To prove that Utomiya is really not Horikita and my enemy, I have to make her spit it out. I could also prove that they indeed put something inside this room.

"I will say my real reason if you will say yours too. How about it?"

Horikita was surprised upon hearing what I said. 

But still, she only kept her mouth shut.

If it was a threat that could result in death, then I would understand her not saying it. But Utomiya should have made sure not to use that threat or Horikita might have lost her sanity by now.

Horikita and I were only staring at each other as I waited for her answer. I could see her trembling lips clearly, as she was contemplating if she's gonna say it or not.

The silence had already been a while so I decided to give up. But when I was about to say something, Horikita opened her mouth and said,

"A-ayanokoji-kun....... t-they..... they also-."

Brrrrr.......

Horikita flinched upon hearing her phone ringing.

Both our heads turned towards the phone that was on top of the table.

The name of the caller. Utomiya.

That confirms all my suspicions.

I glanced at Horikita who was only watching her phone vibrate. No sign of her picking up. Instead, she was looking like she remembered something while watching it.

When the phone stopped vibrating, I decided to end the conversation by telling her the things she doesn't want to hear.

"Everything Utomiya told you was the truth, Horikita. I was only rebelling from my parents. There's no other reason behind it."

She only looked at me with sad and weak eyes.

"Moreover..... after I graduate here, I'll go back to them, obviously. It's not like there's any place for me to go. And then...... I will follow what they planned for me."

Which makes those students whose future got robbed get expelled in vain. 

"W-why do you have to do this, Ayanokoji-kun?"

Even if I tell her the truth about my life, trying to fight against them that could result in more sacrifices is useless as I'm going back to the white room anyway.

"Still, I'm gonna fight for my three years of high school life. Even if all of you will become my enemy."

Fight for those students and his future instead for me who only wanted a normal high school life, Horikita. Even if you fail, you won't regret it as it was the right thing to do.

There's no guarantee that Amasawa and Utomiya are not my enemy even after I confirmed my suspicions and all that information. There's no guarantee that they were not fooling me. That's why I'm gonna stick to my original plan. 

Turning Horikita to be my enemy will keep her away from harm. 

If Utomiya is indeed an enemy, I'll defeat him without Horikita getting involved.

HORIKITA POV

Ayanokoji-kun left, while I was just standing still, devastated.

When Utomiya-kun told me about the possible outcome of my brother when i meet him after I graduate, it actually gave more reasons for me to hold on to my intuition.

And after my conversation with Ayanokoji-kun, who's still refusing to tell me about his life, it made me believe that my intuition was right.

But still, I was really hoping for him to tell me the truth despite knowing that he will only lie. The reason why I was hesitating to tell him everything.

"If talking to him only makes you confused, then find the answers from yourself. Trust your intuition more."

I remembered Utomiya-kun's words that were buried not just in my mind but also in my heart.

If I trust my intuition more, I'm afraid that I'm gonna make a wrong decision again considering my suspicions that there's more to that threat for my brother.

"Am I strong enough for this?"

Authors Note:It really took me a month to update so sorry for that. I don't know if it's because I'm not as motivated as before or just pure laziness. LOL

Well, consider this as two chapters since this actually reached to 6000 words.

Spoiler for y2v4.5

Yagami was revealed to be the white room student along with Amasawa. I'm glad that the wr enforcers in my fanfic was the real wroomers in the official LN. Though my Utomiya got played LOL.

Anyway....

Thank you for still coming back and hope you enjoyed it.😊😊