After school, having some free time I decided to send a mail I had written up addressed to a certain individual and right after, as I finished it up I made eye contact with Karuizawa.
No, eye contact isn't such a good thing.
It's just, I searched for an opening and snuck a glance towards her but coincidentally, she noticed my gaze. However, it obviously must have been that my intentions weren't conveyed to her, as Karuizawa left the classroom with two of her female friends in tow.
As I thought, unless I contact her directly there's no way she'd understand.
Taking my bag in hand, I moved to go back to my room, leaving the classroom a minute after Karuizawa.
"Hey".
Descending the stairs, as I headed towards the main entrance, I was stopped by Karuizawa who was alone for some reason.
"Didn't you go back?".
"I did think about going back, but I thought you wanted to say something to me so I waited. Was I wrong?".
I could not help but be surprised by her statement.
"Somewhat".
"Well, I also have something to tell you anyways. Do you mind hearing me out briefly?".
'Go ahead', I urged Karuizawa to talk.
"The mail you sent me. I'd like to hear about your true intentions".
Saying that, she opened her phone and showed me the mail. There, this was written.
"No matter what it may be, object to Horikita's opinion. Then right afterwards, ask Kushida for her opinion".
That was what I had instructed Karuizawa to do in the middle of class.
"As far as improvisation goes, you have a way of spinning a good story. In that situation, you did well objecting".
"Really. If I had to say, I agreed with Horikita-san's opinion. I don't quite understand calling out to Kushida-san either. So, what's the meaning behind that order?".
"There'll be no end to it if you worry over the meaning behind each and every one of my actions. And even if you wish for it, there's no guarantee that I'd answer. Do you understand what I mean by this?".
"You're telling me to just obey your orders without asking the reason behind them. I get it".
"That is what I mean".
The obedient Karuizawa did not inquire any further.
"Then, other than that, tell me something. You didn't raise your hand but which one did you think was the right one?".
"I'd have to say both were right. Where to place the emphasis is up to the individual themselves after all".
"That's not an answer. Ultimately, you didn't answer what you're really thinking".
"Unfortunately, I have a policy of basically not thinking in terms of 'which' one".
".....what's with that? I don't understand. What do you want to do? Are you aiming to throw the other classes into chaos? Or are you seriously thinking about raising up Class D to Class A?".
"At the very least, Horikita believes that".
'That's not what I mean', as though saying that Karuizawa sighed and glared at me.
"What I'm asking about isn't what Horikita-san thinks. I'd like you to tell me already what you're seeing and what you're aiming for".
"Let's see. If I had to say, I have no interest in rising up to Class A. It's just, I'm starting to feel like preparing this class to be able to rise to Class A isn't such a bad thing".
"What's that mean? I don't quite understand what the difference may be, just how condescending do you intend to be?"
It's better to keep Chabashira-sensei from coming to the front here.
"Even if I put it into words now, you won't believe me and I have no way to prove it. That's why I'll affix a protective line so that you'll believe me many times over. In this sports festival, a traitor will appear from within Class D. Then, that person will leak internal information from Class D, all of it, to the outside".
"Wait, huh? Are you seriously saying that!?".
"If that time comes, you'll believe me too. What I'm seeing, what I have seen, that is".
"What do you mean, tell me the details".
"Right now, I can't. But, when the time comes I will tell you everything. Right now go, we're standing out too much here".
"I was going to do it even if you didn't tell me to. If I'm seen together with someone gloomy like you, my value will decrease. But...by any chance even if a traitor appears, it'll be fine right?".
"Yeah. I've already prepared for that occasion".
Saying that, I showed her my phone. Of course, Karuizawa might not know exactly what this is though. Either way, even as she made a dissatisfied face, Karuizawa descended down the stairs.
I saw her off and breathed a sigh. Class D's strategy has more or less solidified. As well as the strategy I've drawn up.
Now then, I wonder what kind of battle our ally Class A has envisioned? Considering Katsuragi's personality, they'll probably be executing a solid plan but....Sakayanagi's existence, naturally for the White Team, and for Class D too a positive.
For instance, let's say there was an escape device that could only save one person, and the ones in a predicament are a healthy individual and a disabled person. In that situation, what I mean is that the healthy individual has no obligation to hand the device over to the disabled person on account of their physical disability. Since the person is a cripple who cannot resist, it's fine to just steal the escape device from them even if physically hitting them is required. Born as an individual, you naturally have the right to live as an individual as well.
In an emergency scenario, the illegality of it will be thrown aside. There's nothing fair nor unfair about that. Just because Sakayanagi cannot engage in sports doesn't mean there's any need to go easy on her.
"But even so...".
Just by having a deep past, Karuizawa is better at reading people and emotions than I had imagined. More than anything, the fact that she managed to make her surroundings 'not' see her like that gives her high points.
Once again, having finished up this unexpected business, I felt satisfied and decided to return.