We sat at a table with two seats which were opposite each other. I was sure of it. I was sure that we were the only two to sit at this table while not being on a date. Some people may sit at this table with their friends but that friend is always the same gender. No student has gone to a restaurant like this for a date and no one would come here with the opposite sex as that would imply many things.
Kaori scanned the menu looking for the thing to eat which would suit this atmosphere perfectly. Our relationship was beyond simple—we were at war with each other yet we act like best friends while we plan to get our other two best friends into a relationship together.
Kaori is the one who knew most things about me. Once the others know then I can move on to the second stage of my plan but I would have to fight with Kaori as well. Once Akito and Harumi have a decent chance of dating then Kaori would use that opportunity to destroy their relationship.
We ordered our meals and waited. After a minute our food came. The steam rising from the food shows how delectable it is.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Kaori asked. Like me, Kaori didn't seem to like small talk. She always got to the point when it was just me and her.
"They are closer than we thought. That incident brought them together drastically." I said. "There was one thing she didn't tell you though."
Kaori's curiosity grew exponentially. Her eyes locked onto me with her complete attention on me. She wanted to know what Ikeda Harumi left out and for what reason. For what reason would her best friend not tell her everything especially when it involves potential relationships?
"Tell me then." Kaori said as her curiosity increased.
"There should be a good reason she didn't tell you so what makes you think I would?"
"Oh come on! You watched Akito get beaten up"
"Correction, I watched him grow."
"You still watched and you did nothing."
"That won't make me want to tell you it's better to keep it a secret." I said. I watched Kaori's expression change.
"I'll let you address me as "Kaori-chan" all the time."
"I can address you that whenever I want."
"Please tell me!!"
"Akito's court is on Friday so I'll tell you then."
"I suppose I can wait until then but for that, you have to pay for the meals."
I couldn't tell Kaori that her brother will be in the court. There was a reason why I didn't want to attend it as Akito's lawyer because the less he knows the better. I also didn't want to show anyone how I would perform as a lawyer and I didn't want Kaori's brother to know my face yet.
"Why didn't you be Akito's lawyer?" Kaori asked as she drank her cola.
"Well I might be strong and have good grades but at the end of the day I don't think I would be able to help Akito because I would need evidence."
Kaori asked that question because she thought that I might say that I don't want to stand out but I had answered with something different.
"What would you do if everyone knew about your abilities?"
Kaori looked eager for an answer but I could already see through her plan. Faking my emotions before making her think I can't sense some emotions or see through some expressions was a good move. If I didn't convince myself that I didn't know the expression then she could've seen through me but now she will underestimate my emotional intelligence.
"What would that do? It would only make me more popular. I'm sure when that happens it will only benefit me and my school life would probably become better."
"Why don't you want to do that?"
Kaori was asking multiple questions now. She could've at least tried to throw me off guard before asking the questions but she didn't think that much.
"I value my peace."
It wasn't a lie. I did value my peace but I also wanted to see how much drama I could stir up in this school. I knew I could stir up drama in this school and it has worked; I have gotten Akito and Harumi closer and this complicated relationship with Kaori and I also have second-years who fear me and some of them want to fight or avenge their friend. There is also a very powerful student's best friend who has started to like me and sooner or later she will fall for me.
In about a month I have stirred this much drama for my benefit. It would benefit me in the coming weeks because as I have said previously. This school isn't like the others. There will be special exams that would benefit us after we graduate. Exams will bring us closer as a class and probably break some of the bonds we have with our friends so we can make better ones. We will also have exams that will help our cognitive ability and increase our observation skills.
"I'm sure you know about the special exam that will start after the holidays." I said.
"After the holidays? I thought it was going to be more later in the future."
"It's after the holidays so we need to prepare as they have given us no information. We cannot ask for help from the second or third years as the exams are different for each year and there will be a punishment for whoever does."
The school changes the special exams for each year as each year is different and they alter them to suit the year. A lot of thought goes into these exams solely for our growth. One of the reasons I joined this school was because of this.
Kaori now had to plan for these exams. She is extremely intelligent however she still needs to grow. It could take some time before I can finally guide her so she can reach her full potential but the time will come.
Kaori looked at her food almost as if she had zoned out. She was probably thinking intensively about how to pass the coming exams. They weren't supposed to be easy.
Through my observations, I have concluded that Asagiri Kaori is a genius. She could be a super genius and has the potential to be even more. That is why if I use her then she can reach her full potential.
"Are you prepared for the PE exam on Friday?" Kaori asked.
"Why wouldn't I be prepared? It's just another exam after all." I replied. Kaori probably wanted everyone to know of my strength. "Do you want me to show everyone?"
"How could I just sit still knowing that one of the strongest students in Japan is sitting opposite me but he remains to look weak?" Kaori yelled as she slammed her hands on the table. The restaurant went quiet and people were looking at us with eyes that I did not like.
"Are they breaking up?" Some people murmured.
I let out a sigh as people watched Kaori leave the table and exit the restaurant. I then paid for the food and left the restaurant but I didn't bother to search for Kaori. Searching for her would only be time-consuming and would result in nothing. If only it did but this was an opportunity. If I searched for her then it would look like I cared for her and it would benefit me. As much as this seemed tiring it was an opportunity that I couldn't let pass.
If we were a couple it would be a different story. I would be obliged to find her or else it would be the end of the relationship. Also, I would have much more opportunities to manipulate her but being in an onerous relationship would leave me with multiple emotions.
We didn't need to go to school as there were no more exams. I then felt the vibrations from my phone. I took my phone out of my pocket to see Akito's name displayed on my phone screen. I had put Akito's contact name as his initials in Morse code. Some may say I am paranoid but none of my contact names were normal. I answered Akito's call.
"Tadashi!" Akito said. Even through the phone, I could tell that Akito needed help; His tone spoke for itself and l didn't need any context as I knew it was related to Harumi.
"I know Akito. I'll help you with Harumi." I said before Akito could say anything else.
"Meet me at the cafe and try to bring Kaori as well." Akito said.
"That might be a problem." I said. Kaori stormed out of the restaurant for some reason.
"Did you two get in a fight?" Akito said. "You don't need to answer so I'll tell her to come. You just come because it's important."
"I'll come then. What time?"
"9:45." Akito said. He then hung up the phone.
Akito wanted to meet up late without Harumi. This was something to think about. He might have wanted to already move forward into a relationship with Harumi but I can't let that happen now. It would ruin my plans.
I went to my dormitory and prepared for the rendezvous. There were many possibilities for why Akito called us out. Some possibilities were least likely than others but they were still possibilities. I had to prepare myself for most of the outcomes and if an outcome that I didn't prepare myself for happens then I will just have to prepare then.
I knew my capabilities and limits so that would be advantageous for me. I also knew where I had to grow and what is too low for me.
I haven't worked out in more than a year so I guess I should pick up from where I left from. These students are surprisingly weak as well. Compared to those guys these guys are children. They won't survive if they come here.
I looked at the dumbbells on a shopping website I found. One of its stores where in the school and I could order the dumbbells from there. The only problem was that they didn't have a dumbbell of my level.
The dumbbells they had went from 2kg to 60kg. I could do these easily in my current state. To think of it I never really did light these for training; it always objected. I might have gotten weaker since then but regardless I need to work on my body.
I thought of all the things that were on the school grounds that could be used like a dumbbell, unfortunately, there was nothing. I also needed to continue the runs I used to do as well as the spars I used to do.
I couldn't do that here even if I wanted to because everyone in this school is weak after all.
The strongest students in the school are common knowledge for students. The strongest could be put in many ways: the strongest student physically or the strongest in combat.
The strongest student physically in the school that is known to everyone is Shimoda's older brother, Yoshido the second being Asagiri Kenji, Kaori's older brother. In terms of combat, it is also Yoshido as he won against Kenji three times in a row in the last Martial Arts Tournament. That would be debatable now because I'm sure Kenji and Yoshido have improved and become stronger.
Both Kenji and Yoshido are strong but they could never be on par with those guys. They mastered all martial arts known to man in five years as well as fought against multiple opponents who were much stronger than them.
The top three strongest students in combat in the third year are Shimoda Yoshido, Ikeda Shuichi, and Tashiro Yuuji. In the second year, it's Asagiri Kenji, Murakami Toshio, and Yoshimoto Kiyoshi. The top three in the first years are Yamada Yoshio, Shimoda Tomiko, and Takemoto Yuudai.
There is also another factor to take into account, speed. Speed is a very important factor in a fight. I could say the top three in the third years and second years but I can't for the first years as we haven't been assessed yet. I can finally find that out.
Yamada has the potential to become stronger than Yoshido and Kenji and he is reaching that but the leaderboard might change in a few months.
Top five. That's what she said I might be. Kaori-chan, you make nice jokes but these guys wouldn't be close to me in terms of combat nor will they ever be close to me in physical strength. I'm sorry Kaori but I'm not overestimating myself, it's just how strong I am. They wouldn't come close to them in strength or speed or combat so how will they be any close to me? You'll find out sooner or later Kaori-chan.