The rain began to intensify, and the fog grew thicker.
Amid the poor visibility and muffled sounds, I sensed an unpleasant presence approaching from behind.
The distinct sound of muddy earth splashing under deliberately heavy footsteps.
Ayanokouji noticed it, of course, and Nanase seemed to pick up on it as well.
When I turned around, I saw the fluttering crimson hair of a student who had come to an abrupt stop.
"Looks like it's gonna pour, senpai!"
Emerging from the mist was Ichika Amasawa from Class 1-A.
There were no signs of other students around her, and she wasn't carrying a backpack or tablet.
How had she made it all the way here? At the very least, this couldn't be a mere coincidence.
"Please stay behind me."
While I observed Amasawa, Nanase—still visibly fatigued—stepped in front of us.
"Huh? Nanase-chan, are you not happy to see me? We're in the same group, and you're being so cold."
"I... don't trust you."
"So mean! Why would you say that? I'm this cute, you know? Hikigaya-senpai, you agree, right?"
Cuteness and trustworthiness aren't the same thing.
Before I could voice that thought, Amasawa swiftly—yet lightly—slipped past Nanase and stood right in front of me.
"Hikigaya-senpai?!"
Nanase turned around with a shout, unable to react in time to Amasawa's sudden movement. That kind of speed and efficiency wasn't something an ordinary student could pull off. Minimal, precise—completely without wasted motion.
"I wanna talk to Ayanokouji-senpai too, but... Hikigaya-senpai first, I guess? There's something you wanna ask me, right?"
She leaned forward slightly, looking up at me with upturned eyes. Nanase raised a hand to signal for her to stop, and though she clearly wasn't happy about it, Amasawa halted.
"Sure, there are a few things I'd like to ask."
If we stayed at a standstill like this, we'd just keep getting drenched, risking our health. It was better to get some answers and clarify the situation.
"Sure, sure! For senpai, I'll answer anything!"
"First question: Why are you here? No—how did you even find us?"
"Hmm... I could tell you, but then you'd just leave me afterward, right? I don't want that."
Something felt off. Amasawa seemed to be stalling, filling the time with meaningless chatter.
Then, she reached out and lightly touched my cheek, smiling faintly.
"Ahaha. That thinking face of yours is the best. You haven't changed at all since back then."
The moment she made contact, Nanase immediately closed the distance and grabbed her wrist.
"What's this? This hand—"
"Are you planning to lay a hand on Hikigaya-senpai?"
"Since when did Nanase-chan become his knight? First, you were tied to Ayanokouji-senpai, and now you're siding with Hikigaya-senpai?"
"That's... none of your concern. What's your objective here?"
"I got lost. Thought I'd come ask for help."
A blatant, shameless lie at this point.
"I want to talk to Ayanokouji-senpai and Hikigaya-senpai. Mind stepping aside?"
"You can talk right here."
"Sorry, can't do that. It's about the White Room, after all."
Had she decided hiding her identity was pointless? Amasawa confessed outright. I hadn't expected her to reveal herself like this.
"Get it now? Outsider?"
If Amasawa really was from the White Room, calling Nanase an outsider made sense.
"Let her go, Nanase."
At Ayanokouji's instruction, Nanase reluctantly released her grip, though her dissatisfaction was clear.
"Good girl, Nanase-chan. That loyal-dog attitude. I don't hate it."
With that, Amasawa gradually closed the distance between us. Finally, it seemed like we could move the conversation forward.
"Sorry, but just mentioning the White Room isn't enough to confirm anything. Nanase's case proves that."
"Hikigaya's right. Words alone don't mean much."
"Fine, I'll prove it. But... I'd rather Nanase-chan not hear this part."
She gave a mischievous smile, as if to say, You understand, right?
I signaled to Nanase to step back and give us space. Though visibly reluctant to let Amasawa near me, Nanase eventually complied.
If Amasawa really was from the White Room, that meant three former members were now gathered here.
"So, where should I start?"
"Don't bother with half-truths. They won't mean anything."
"I know, I know. Honestly, I'm kinda nervous. Standing in front of the two masterpieces—can you blame me?"
Masterpieces. The fact she knew that term made her claims far more credible.
After a brief pause, Amasawa continued.
"The curriculum you underwent at age ten was based on Project 5's structural theory. At eleven, it was Project 7's relativity theory. I went through both too, so I remember them well."
Her words were too specific—proof that she had indeed been in the White Room.
"The rooms, the halls, even the personal quarters they gave us... everything was pure white."
At the very least, she clearly knew far more about the White Room than Nanase.
It was unlikely she had just heard key details from Tsukishiro. The White Room wouldn't disclose such information to outsiders.
At this point, it was safe to conclude Amasawa was the real deal.
"So, why reveal yourself like this? What's the benefit in openly telling us who you are?"
"Yeah, that's the big question, huh? Well... it's because I wanted to make it clear that I'm not your enemy."
"That's a contradiction. White Room students were sent here to expel us. There's no way you're not an enemy."
Amasawa was already drenched, but she didn't seem to care as she kept talking.
"Did you know, senpai? The generations after your fourth batch... they resent you. A lot. The higher-ups probably thought that jealousy would be enough to drive you out. But they messed up. They didn't realize that I don't feel jealousy—just something else entirely."
"Something else?"
"Yeah. I mean, I admire Ayanokouji-senpai too, but what I feel for Hikigaya-senpai is way stronger."
I had no idea what she was talking about. Noticing my confusion, Amasawa blushed slightly, straightened her back, and leaned closer.
"You still don't get it, huh? Guess I'll have to spell it out for you."
She didn't seem hostile, but for some reason, the intensity in her gaze as she looked at me never faded.
"Senpai! I love you!"
Puckering her lips, she closed the distance between us. I reacted too late—our lips met before I could pull away.
There was no sign of poison or anything forced into my mouth. It didn't seem like she was trying to harm me.
When she slowly pulled back, her expression was blissful, as if she had been filled with life itself.
"What was that for?"
"Aw, don't look at me like that. That was my first kiss, you know?"
Her cheeks flushed as she smiled softly.
"Anyway, back to what I was saying. The feeling I've had for you all this time, senpai..."
She paused, pressing a finger to her lips before gazing at me with a sultry look.
"Love. Adoration. It's more than just words can describe. I'm in love with you, Hikigaya-senpai."
A declaration.
Under normal circumstances, this would sound like a passionate confession. But with the White Room involved, the meaning was entirely different. Besides, the first time I met Amasawa was at this school.
Ayanokouji seemed just as caught off guard, his expression unreadable.
"Well, I guess it's unfair to expect you to believe me right away."
"Yeah. I can accept your background, but your reason for revealing yourself still doesn't add up."
"It's simple—just a girl's heart. I couldn't make a move on Hikigaya-senpai without coming clean, right?"
She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. To me, though, it just seemed suspicious.
"Well then—I've said what I wanted to say. Guess I'll take my leave now."
"You're intense when you show up, but when it's time to go, you're awfully casual about it."
"If I wasn't, senpai might start hating me."
Looking back at her behavior, everything she did seemed to revolve around me. I didn't trust her, but it was hard to believe this was all an act.
After a brief glance back, Amasawa blew a kiss in my direction and walked off into the distance.
"Given her knowledge of the curriculum, it's safe to say Ichika Amasawa is a White Room student."
Ayanokouji watched her retreating figure before delivering his conclusion.
"Well, that's one thing settled. I'm heading out. There's no advantage in sticking together any longer."
"Right. Thanks for the help, Hikigaya. I was able to get some proper rest thanks to you."
While I was dealing with Nanase, Ayanokouji had just been lying around, even snacking on rations.
I exchanged a brief farewell with Nanase and started walking back toward the original area.
.......
I set up my tent near the original designated area, D3. Staying out in the rain too long would only lower my body temperature. I wanted to rest before any physical issues arose.
At this rate, it seemed reuniting with Ryuuen would have to wait until tomorrow.
"...Figures."
Amid the heavy rain, a message arrived from the school. It was fully expected—today's exam had been canceled. With basic movement and tasks removed, lower-ranked groups would be at a disadvantage. Apparently, the school had prepared a compensatory measure.
Shortly after, another notification arrived regarding the points lost due to the cancellation of the special exam.
"Due to the severe weather, only about a quarter of Day 7's basic movement and tasks could be completed. As compensation, all arrival bonuses, placement rewards, and task rewards on the final day will be doubled. The forecast predicts clear weather by tomorrow morning."
The final day, like the first, would only have three-quarters of the usual exam time. In that sense, the compensation seemed appropriately balanced.
As I operated my tablet, my transceiver buzzed with an incoming call. Since I had already contacted Ryuuen, this had to be someone else.
"Hikigaya-senpai. Can you hear me?"
"Yeah. Did something happen, Takahashi?"
The caller was Shu Takahashi, a first-year Class A student in a cooperative relationship with me.
I had previously given him my transceiver channel so he could periodically relay intel on the first-years. I had instructed him to report any notable movements.
"You told me to report any major actions among the first-years, so here I am. But honestly, senpai, I don't think this concerns you?"
"Doesn't matter. What's the situation?"
Even if it seemed irrelevant to him, it might still be important to me.
"Tsubaki from Class 1-C is mobilizing the entire first-year cohort to target 'someone.'"
"Someone?"
"Yeah. Even though I hold a pretty high position in my class, I don't know who it is. Only the class leaders and a select few are aware of the target."
That "someone" was most likely Ayanokouji.
Takahashi didn't know about the bounty on me and Ayanokouji, so he assumed it wasn't my business. But this was very much my concern.
Had they decided Ayanokouji was vulnerable alone, or was there a White Room student pulling strings behind the scenes?
"At first, the first-years just formed an alliance to avoid being outmaneuvered by the upperclassmen. But somehow, things escalated to this..."
Takahashi sounded slightly apologetic, though he had no reason to feel guilty. Maybe he was just being cautious since it involved his own year.
"...Got it. Thanks for the report. Keep me updated if anything else comes up."
With that, I ended the call.
.....
Exam Day 10
The second half of the exam had begun, and Kiriyama, the student council vice president who had maintained a top-three position so far, quietly closed his eyes for a moment after finishing a transceiver call.
Then, he picked up his tablet and checked the rankings of the top ten groups.
First place remained firmly held by Nanami's group, followed by Kōenji, who had been steadily climbing the ranks despite acting alone. Kiriyama's group was in third—a high position—but his attention wasn't on his own standing. Instead, his gaze fixed on the pair of second-years just below him.
"Kiriyama, are you really targeting these guys? They're in fourth, still below you. If we're going after someone, shouldn't we focus on Kōenji instead…?"
Mikitani, a second-year Class B student, spoke up while showing his tablet, but Kiriyama responded immediately.
"No. Ryūen's group needs to be taken out before Kōenji. Without question."
His decisive tone left Mikitani visibly dissatisfied.
"Think about it. Even if Nanami keeps running away unscathed, you might end up stuck in third if you can't overtake Kōenji. And if you lose to a pair of second-years, our support for you will look like a joke."
The third-years were under Nanami's control.
The gap between his Class A and the other classes—especially Class D and B—was insurmountable. Catching up as a class was practically impossible. The only option was to earn Nanami's favor and secure a transfer into Class A.
"So, to keep Nanami's evaluation from dropping, shouldn't we focus on Kōenji instead?"
Kiriyama didn't outright deny the logic, and Mikitani nodded.
"Kōenji is definitely a threat. His near-limitless stamina lets him push forward alone at maximum efficiency."
"Right? So then—"
"But from my perspective, the most dangerous group is Ryūen and Hikigaya."
"Huh?"
Mikitani stared at him in disbelief.
"Mikitani, you're too fixated on Kōenji to notice. Take a closer look at Ryūen's group."
Following the suggestion, Mikitani checked the rankings again.
"...Sure, they're close to your group, but they've been stuck in fourth this whole time, right?"
"Wrong. They've chosen to stay in fourth."
When the top ten groups became visible on the fourth day, Kiriyama had only paid attention to Kōenji, who was holding third place alone.
But from that day until now, Ryūen's group had maintained fourth place—never falling far behind third, yet never overtaking it.
"I refuse to believe that's a coincidence. I've been tracking our points closely, and Ryūen's group has never once tried to surpass us."
"Well… maybe, but is that really a problem?"
"A huge problem. It means they've been deliberately avoiding the top three. In other words, they're positioning themselves to strike for first whenever they want."
Kiriyama theorized that Ryūen was exploiting the fact that Nanami and the other top contenders would only act against immediate threats in the top three.
"And on top of that, the fact that a two-person group has gathered this many points is abnormal."
If the gap were overwhelming, it'd be one thing—but with such a narrow margin, the third-years couldn't afford to ignore them.
If left unchecked, Ryūen's group could overtake Kiriyama's and finish in the top three.
There was even a chance they could surpass both Nanami and Kōenji.
Of course, brute force wasn't an option.
They had to suppress Ryūen's group—swiftly and discreetly.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We'll use the Free Groups."
The Free Groups—teams of three, handpicked by Nanami from Classes B through D, five from each.
They existed solely to act as his enforcers.
"Yeah, figures. How many are we using?"
"All six under my command. We're deploying every last one."
"Six? You're serious? They're just two people. Even with my group, four would be more than enough—"
Kiriyama cut him off.
"Underestimating them would be a fatal mistake. If we treat them as just another pair of second-years, we'll be the ones taking damage. That's why we crush them completely—so they can never recover."
Even if Ryūen joined another group, it wouldn't change anything.
"So, you're leaving Ryūen to the six groups while we focus on earning points?"
"No. I'll oversee the operation to corner them."
"You? That's inefficient. Let me handle it."
"You want command?"
"This is my chance to prove myself. Unlike you, I still need to earn Nanami's approval. Besides, if I take care of Ryūen, you can focus on countering Kōenji, right?"
Kiriyama fell silent for a few seconds, considering the proposal.
Stopping Kōenji was a priority.
"I get that you want to raise your standing, but if you fail with six Free Groups, the backlash will be severe."
"Relax. I didn't become a group leader for nothing."
Mikitani pressed, eager for recognition.
After a long pause, Kiriyama finally nodded.
"...Fine. I'll entrust you with the six groups. But don't let your guard down."
"Yeah. Of course."
And so, to eliminate two second-years, Mikitani and his six Free Groups began moving—heading straight for Ryūen's location.
.....
Day 9 – Around 5:00 PM
After reaching the final designated area, G9, Ryūen and I were momentarily captivated by the view from the sandy beach. The setting sun cast its glow over the ocean, making the water shimmer with reflected light.
"Hey, it's too damn bright. Let's get moving."
"Do you have no sense of beauty? Can't you appreciate this?"
"It's just fucking bright."
…I was an idiot for expecting anything from Ryūen. Well, he was never the type to enjoy scenery.
In the end, we only admired the view for a few seconds before heading back into the forest.
Then, from the right, we heard voices—people talking. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but they didn't sound familiar.
Curious, Ryūen and I approached, only to run into a certain group.
"R-Ryūen-senpai?!"
Turns out, the group chatting and laughing was Ishizaki and his friends. The moment they spotted us, Ishizaki jumped up and hurried over to Ryūen with exaggerated respect.
"Hey, hey! It's Ryūen-senpai and Hikigaya!!"
"Shut the hell up, Ishizaki."
At Ishizaki's loud announcement, Nishino and Katsuragi—who had been resting—also came over.
…Come to think of it, where was Hiyori?
"Ishizaki, where's Hiyori?"
"Shiina? She went to check out the view on the beach."
Seems we just missed her.
I decided to go see how she was doing, so after telling Ryūen, I headed back toward the shore.
"...There she is."
I found Hiyori sitting on the sand, legs tucked beneath her, gazing at the sunset. Her face wasn't visible, but her beautiful silver hair swayed in the breeze, glinting under the golden light.
"Hiyori."
"!! …Hachiman-kun?"
Startled at first, she quickly recognized my voice and turned with a radiant smile.
"Mind if I sit next to you?"
"Of course! Please do!"
With her permission, I sat down beside her.
Earlier, I'd only gotten a few seconds to take in the view, but now that I could properly appreciate it, the scenery really was breathtaking.
"Was this your final designated area too, Hachiman-kun?"
"Yeah. Random assignment."
"Fufu~ Then today must be my lucky day."
"Mine?"
"Mine. I've been wanting to see you."
"...I see."
"Are you blushing?"
"No."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm actually pretty good at lying."
"Then does that mean I'm special?"
"Maybe."
"I wish you'd say that with more confidence."
Despite her words, Hiyori didn't look displeased—if anything, she seemed in high spirits.
She naturally reached for my hand. I didn't resist, letting our fingers intertwine.
"It was a little lonely watching the sunset alone… so I'm happy I get to see it with you."
"Just luck. Ryūen and I passed by earlier, but he couldn't care less about the view."
"Ishizaki-kun and the others didn't seem interested either. But in the end, I got to see it with just you… so maybe it was lucky after all."
I felt her grip tighten slightly.
Then, she leaned her head against my shoulder.
"The sunset is beautiful."
"Yeah."
"I've always wanted to watch it like this… just the two of us."
"Did you read about this kind of scene in a novel?"
"Yes. In the story, the two people were married."
"Married, huh."
"Yes."
"...I see."
"...Do you think we look like a married couple right now?"
"Hard to say. But at the very least, we probably look like lovers."
"...I'm happy."
She smiled softly, turning her face toward mine.
"In that novel, the wife said something while watching the sunset."
"What was it?"
"...Do you want to hear it?"
"I'm curious."
Even though she was the one who brought it up, Hiyori suddenly seemed hesitant, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Is it something embarrassing?"
"...A little."
"You don't have to say it if you don't want to."
"...You won't laugh?"
"No way."
If she was worried about laughter, it must've been something cheesy.
Hiyori took a deep breath, then turned to face me fully.
"Which is more beautiful… me or the sunset?"
Her whisper was so quiet I almost missed it. The moment the words left her lips, her face turned even redder, as if she couldn't believe she'd actually said it.
"S-Sorry! That was weird, wasn't it? I-I mean…"
"...I don't know if I have an eye for beauty."
"Eh?"
"But to me… you're more beautiful."
"…!"
She instantly averted her gaze.
But only for a second—then she turned back, our eyes meeting naturally.
"..."
Hiyori closed her eyes, tilting her face toward mine.
I reached out, gently cupping her cheek as I leaned in.
And then—just as our lips were about to—
—CRACK.
A sharp sound—like a branch snapping—cut through the moment from behind us.
The distance between us widened instinctively as we both turned toward the noise.
And there, standing awkwardly…
"N-No, this isn't—! I-I didn't mean to interrupt! I was just passing through, I didn't mean to make noise! I swear I wasn't trying to get in the way—!"
Stumbling over his words in a flustered rush… was Ayanokōji.
"Relax. Neither of us min—"
—mind.
I couldn't finish the sentence.
Because when I glanced at Hiyori beside me, something stopped me.
"...How many times do you plan on interrupting us? How many times do you think this makes? We were finally alone. The mood was perfect. We were so close to a happy moment. Couldn't you at least think about timing? The chances I get to see Hachiman-kun during this exam are limited, and you still have to ruin them—"
"H-Hiyori?"
"! …Fufu. Is something wrong?"
She had been muttering under her breath, but the moment I called her name, she snapped back to reality, smiling softly as usual.
…Somehow, that smile was terrifying.
"A-Are you mad?"
"Not at all. But…"
Her gentle eyes, which had been fixed on me, shifted toward Ayanokōji—who was still frozen in place.
"I need to have a little chat with Ayanokōji-kun. Will you wait for me, Hachiman-kun?"
"YES, MA'AM!!!"
…My body moved on instinct. Before I realized it, I was sitting in perfect seiza, my muscles locked stiff.
Hiyori stood up slowly, walked over to Ayanokōji, exchanged a few words, and then the two of them disappeared into the forest.
Leaving me alone, still stuck in seiza, waiting.
About three minutes later, they returned.
But something was off. Well, Hiyori was still smiling like nothing happened, but Ayanokōji…
Ayanokōji staggered toward me before collapsing to his knees like all strength had left him.
His face was as expressionless as ever, but his eyes were wide with something close to panic, sweat pouring down his forehead and neck.
"Ayanokōji?"
"W-What… is this feeling…?"
"Hey… what happened?"
"I… I don't know. I don't know, Hikigaya. What… is this…?"
"Seriously, what's wrong?"
Drenched in sweat, Ayanokōji muttered something under his breath.
"Could this be… fear…?"
What had he just said?
For a second, I thought I heard the word fear, but that couldn't be right.
What about a delicate girl like Hiyori could possibly scare him? If anything, being around her was pure bliss.
"I wonder what happened to Ayanokōji-kun?"
"Yeah, really."
As Hiyori approached with her usual smile, Ayanokōji scrambled backward like a startled animal, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"What did you two talk about?"
"Just a little conversation~ ♪ Don't worry about it~ ♪"
Well, if Hiyori said so, I wouldn't pry.
"We should head back and set up the tent soon. If this was your designated area too, Ayanokōji, you should do the same."
"N-No, it's fine. My area isn't here. I need to… get to A3."
"What are you talking about? This is G9."
That was the complete opposite direction. At this rate, he wouldn't make it until morning…
"...Anyway, I'm leaving."
He shot one last fearful glance at Hiyori.
Then, with speed I'd never seen from him—not even in the White Room—Ayanokōji grabbed his backpack and bolted into the forest.
…What the hell was that speed? I couldn't move that fast even at my best.
"Fufu~ I wonder what got into him?"
"Yeah, no idea."
"Well, let's not worry about it. We should head back. I'm looking forward to sleeping together tonight~"
"Boys and girls aren't allowed to share a tent."
"Muu… Then at least stay with me until bedtime."
A little selfishness like that was fine.
With that settled, we headed back to where Ryūen and the others were waiting.
=================================
Want to support me?
You can join as member in my P4TR30N
p4treon.com/ShirooYuki ( Change 4 to a)
See ya!!