TO make a long story short, the operation was a success. Nonoka’s social isolation had been effectively dismantled. Following the day’s incident, two rumors started to swirl among the students: first, that Nonoka had a falling out with her wealthy benefactor—myself; and second, that we had never been friends from the start.
The latter rumor was preferable—a clean break, as it were, with no notions of her supposed connection to me lingering around, affecting her or those around her. To ensure this narrative prevailed, Shizuki directed her pawns to amplify this version. Contradicting one rumor with another was challenging, but signal-boosting an existing one proved surprisingly straightforward.
Two weeks later, Nonoka had fully integrated with her classmates, solving not all of our problems, but our most immediate one. During this period, I only occasionally monitored her social progress, as my focus was dominated by the upcoming midterms. Spanning five days, with liberal arts included on the final day, these exams demanded comprehensive preparation. The targeted study approach I used for entrance exams wasn’t going to cut it this time—I needed to excel in every subject.
The first exam morning, I sat in my seat, doing my best to review the materials for the day’s exams—in my head, that was. Outwardly, I propped up an irrelevant trivia book, pretending to be unbothered.
Perhaps, too unbothered.
“Ms. Mio, cool, calm, and collected as always,” Rikka remarked, approaching me. This was our first interaction since the gymnasium incident two weeks ago. Her approach was unexpected, especially since I had assumed she would never speak to me again.
“Ms. Rikka. I didn’t think you’d come knocking,” I commented, maintaining an air of indifference.
“Truth be told, I’m surprised myself,” she admitted. “I’d resolved to keep my distance until after the exam results were out, but I couldn’t help noticing you seemed rather tense for someone engaged in a leisurely read.”
Tense? Was I really appearing tense? I’d focused on appearing tranquil, absorbed in my book as though without a care in the world, so how did she…?
But wait, she planned to keep her distance until after the exam results were announced? In other words, she still intended to speak with me?
“I thought our little agreement was null and void after what happened recently?” I ventured.
“The gymnasium episode?” she replied with an air of nonchalance. “Well, yes, frankly, I found your actions there quite repugnant.”
Her straightforward condemnation caught me off guard, prompting only a wry smile from me. I couldn’t dispute her view. In her position, I would have felt similarly repelled, though I questioned whether I’d have the boldness to express it as she did. Once again, the strength of character of young Ms. Yukishiro impressed me.
“Then why bother initiating this conversation with little old repugnant me?” I retorted, lacing my tone with a hint of sarcasm. “Especially since, after that incident, you could easily renege on your promise and no one would bat an eye.”
I wanted Rikka to understand my perspective but simultaneously hoped she wouldn’t get further involved. Caught between these conflicting desires, I aimed for detachment.
But Rikka was persistent. “I’ll admit I considered it. Yet in the end, I couldn’t dismiss one, nagging question: why did a kind and compassionate someone who helped a stranger one moment turn to attack the next, especially over something as crude as the basis of their birth?”
“A stranger?” I asked, seeking clarification.
“I’m referring to Ruri, of course.”
Ruri, of course. For a moment, I thought she meant Nonoka, but it was beyond unlikely that Sayaka and Asuka would willingly tell Rikka about their involvement in bullying Nonoka.
In that case, my defense was straightforward. True, I didn’t know Ruri at the time, but no one else could confirm that. “Strangers, yes, but I helped her because her demeanor suggested she was influential. I assist where I see potential benefits. I’m calculating like that.”
“Calculating,” Rikka echoed, a trace of humor in her tone, “yet you reject my invitation to be your partner in class, then commit such a boorish act in front of everyone. Utterly contradictory, don’t you think? Unless—there was an ulterior motive.”
Her insight caught me off guard. Again, it seemed I underestimated her. Seeing that I wasn’t going to respond, Rikka continued her explanation. “So, I took a step back, looked at the larger picture, and there, what I saw, was most surprising: I saw the actions of someone who recognized Ms. Hiragi’s social plight and took decisive steps to address it.”
She saw through everything. But I would never admit that for as long as I lived. Deny, deny, deny. As long as I clung to my story, the truth would remain like a mist, never condensing into solid reality. “That rather sounds like a theory in search of proof,” I countered dismissively.
“Indeed. And so, I have come searching for that proof. Do you disapprove?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer.
I had wronged Nonoka, a fact witnessed by many. They’d all formed their opinions on the matter and yet, here was Rikka, telling me she was on my side, that she believed in my better nature. I could never rebuff someone who saw so much good in me even if I wanted to.
Unfortunately, however, it seemed my silence spoke volumes. “Best of luck in your exams, Ms. Sakurazaka,” Rikka said with a parting smile before returning to her seat.