No matter how he thought about it, Horikita Suzune was the most suitable candidate.
She was pure enough.
So pure that Asakusa Toru sometimes suspected she might blurt out something like "Mom gave birth to me" at any moment.
But since Horikita had already fallen asleep, there was nothing he could do.
He didn't feel at ease using anyone else.
They weren't as pure as Horikita.
Staying around D-Class any longer would be too conspicuous. Although he wanted to watch D-Class's upcoming disaster in person, exposing his identity for that would be more loss than gain.
…He should go back and find some mosquito audio and make another voice-changing model.
"Ah, isn't that Asakusa-kun?"
Just as Asakusa Toru was thinking about leaving, the brown-haired gyaru noticed him, raised her hand high, and walked straight toward him.
Satou Maya.
One of the more active gyarus in D-Class.
Compared to a certain parasite who had forced herself into the gyaru role to start a new life, this girl was more representative of D-Class's gyarus.
If he remembered correctly, Chabashira Sae's evaluation of her was:
"She can build friendships with anyone."
In that sense, she was even better than Kushida.
Of course, evaluations were just evaluations.
Especially when they came from an idiot like Chabashira Sae.
But even so, it showed that she really had the ability to easily blend in with others.
She had a good vibe.
Or maybe she was just natural.
They were on the level where they could casually chat a few words.
"What are you doing in D-Class?" she leaned casually against the wall beside him. "Selling your recorders again?"
"I told you before, no one's gonna spend extra money on something like that."
"Phones can record now. Who even needs a recorder?"
She complained casually.
"…And yet, you still bought one."
Asakusa paused his step and replied offhandedly.
Back at the club orientation, his sales pitch had worked a little.
Although only Horikita Manabu had dared to buy one on the spot, that incident had given him a bit of fame among first-years.
After that, some people would approach him out of curiosity.
Satou Maya was one of them.
In the end, she bought a recorder and added his contact.
When they met, they'd greet each other.
With that combo, what inexperienced guy wouldn't be completely charmed?
Luckily, he had a heart of steel and only cared about writing diaries.
…Well, the main reason was that he had a functioning brain.
Not every girl who approached you wanted to confess.
Not every greeting meant interest.
His relationship with Satou Maya hadn't reached that level.
Right now, they were probably just…
"Friends."
Different classes, knew each other, occasionally said hi so neither looked too lonely.
Friends.
"Mmm…" She idly twirled her long hair around her finger and loosened it again. "That's because I'm kind-hearted."
"Kind-hearted, huh…" Asakusa's tone turned subtle. "If good people always got good rewards, the world wouldn't be this simple."
Satou Maya was a little surprised.
"It sounds like you're implying something."
She had only come over to chat casually.
Socializing was maintained through meaningless conversations like this.
But she hadn't expected him to say something so reflective.
"I am implying something," Asakusa nodded.
He glanced at the still-rowdy Yamauchi group, who had no idea what was about to happen.
He didn't know whether good people got good rewards.
But idiots?
They definitely got punished.
"Tell me," he said, "among the people dragged down… how many of them are innocent?"
After saying that, he stopped paying attention to Yamauchi's group.
He stretched lazily and waved.
"Class is about to start. I'm leaving."
Asakusa Toru slowly walked away from D-Class.
Only Satou Maya remained there, blinking blankly as she stared at his back.
"Dragged down… What was he talking about?"
She didn't understand.
...
Asakusa's appearance hadn't attracted anyone's attention except hers.
And besides him, D-Class probably wouldn't get any other visitors…
No.
There was still one.
Kamuro Masumi had come to run an errand.
When the second period ended, she stood at the door with a helpless expression and said softly:
"…I'm looking for Wang Meiyu."
After speaking, she didn't bother checking whether D-Class agreed or not.
She walked straight toward Wang Meiyu's seat.
"Is… Kikyo… okay…" Wang Meiyu murmured worriedly as she looked at Kushida's empty seat nearby.
While she was lost in thought, a shadow blocked her view.
"Eh?"
"Um, w-what is it?"
Startled, she raised her head nervously.
She thought it was someone from her class.
But when she looked up, it was an A-Class student.
"I remember… you're…"
The one who followed Sakayanagi before…
Her memory was decent.
She could still remember things from a month ago.
"It's me. Sakayanagi wants to see you."
Kamuro Masumi said expressionlessly.
"After school, come to Palette."
Palette was a café in the shopping center.
It was very popular among students, and both the coffee and desserts were excellent.
"E-eh? Wh-why does she want me?" Wang Meiyu panicked.
Kamuro didn't answer.
She only said calmly, "Ask Sakayanagi yourself. I'm just passing the message."
"Since you know now, I'm leaving."
The atmosphere in D-Class was strange.
Not in smell.
In feeling.
There was an obvious sense of collapse in the air.
She didn't like it.
Now that her task was done, she should go back.
She really didn't know what Sakayanagi was thinking.
She thought going to D-Class last month was just a whim.
But now she was calling Wang Meiyu again.
So what had she even been doing before?
In the end, besides not being Japanese, what was so special about Wang Meiyu anyway?
"I, um… Sakayanagi-san, you…"
Wang Meiyu stammered.
She suddenly realized she didn't know Kamuro's name.
Missing her chance to refuse, she could only watch Kamuro Masumi turn and leave.
Her hands unconsciously pressed against her desk.
But she couldn't bring herself to stand up and chase after her.
Because—
Chabashira Sae had arrived.
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