The announcement from Hoshinomiya Chie had the Class A students excited for a long time, even more so than the private points they received that morning. After all, a luxurious cruise trip was something to look forward to, no matter how you thought about it.
Boys and girls gathered to discuss the trip, talking about swimsuit choices, exercise routines to improve their figures, and more.
By noon, when Ichinose Honami collected half of the private points as usual, Hashima took the opportunity to steer the conversation. He suggested that it was too early to think about such things and that everyone should focus on studying for the upcoming final exams.
Upon hearing Hashima's suggestion, the students quickly stopped their enthusiastic discussion. This was the effect of the prestige he had built up over time. The class trusted his advice, and no one voiced any objections.
After school, Ichinose Honami headed to the student council, while Hashima received a message from Shiina Hiyori and decided to meet her at the library.
Recently, their meetings had been at the library, specifically at the table near the shelves holding classic literature and mystery novels.
Reading in the quiet atmosphere of the library, interspersed with soft conversations, brought a rare sense of peace.
As Hashima entered the library, he skillfully navigated through the rows of bookshelves to his destination.
Soon, he spotted the gray-haired girl sitting there, her serene and gentle aura evident as she read.
"Shiina-san."
Hashima greeted her softly and sat across from her.
"Good afternoon, Hashima-kun."
Shiina Hiyori smiled and returned the greeting. Though she had been reading, she recognized his footsteps and felt a warm joy upon seeing him.
"I finished the last book you recommended. I haven't chosen one for today yet," Hashima said casually. "Do you have any suggestions, Shiina-san?"
"For today... I recommend this one."
Shiina Hiyori pulled a book from the stack beside her, its cover a striking black and red. She handed it to Hashima with a smile and explained, "It's called The Magpie Murders. I just finished it recently and found it quite good."
"Really? What kind of mystery is it?"
Hashima took the book with a smile. The cover featured a uniquely styled bird holding a bloodied knife in its beak, set against a bold red and black background. The design was striking and instantly intriguing to any mystery enthusiast.
"It involves using fairy tales or legends to conceal the true motive," Shiina Hiyori explained slowly. "I can only say this much. The rest is for you to discover, Hashima-kun."
"I'll look forward to it."
Hashima nodded slightly. His interactions with Shiina Hiyori were always like this—simple discussions about mystery novels and books, gradually raising her stock price.
However, as he opened The Magpie Murders and began reading, a new figure appeared before him. Looking up, he saw Ibuki Mio.
"Hashima, it's you?"
The short-haired girl sat beside Shiina Hiyori, her expression wary as she stared at Hashima.
Hashima placed a bookmark in the book and asked with mild confusion, "Me? What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Hmph, I've been wondering why Shiina often brings her bag to the library. She used to finish reading here before leaving."
"So I thought she might be bringing these books for someone. I didn't expect it to be you."
Ibuki's face was filled with suspicion. "Are you trying to get close to Shiina to gather information about our class?"
"That's not true. Hashima-kun and I are just fellow mystery enthusiasts. He's not spying on our class," Shiina Hiyori explained, slightly exasperated.
"And why are you suddenly here, Ibuki-san? You said you didn't like coming to the library."
"I'm just worried about you. That guy is a liar with not a single truthful word. Shiina, don't let him deceive you."
Ibuki Mio still remembered the plan to sabotage Ryuen and the subsequent sale of the school's hidden rules. Both incidents were orchestrated by Hashima.
"That's quite an accusation, Ibuki-san."
Hashima wasn't angry. He glanced at Shiina Hiyori and said calmly, "I only met Shiina-san here by chance. Later, we realized we both loved mystery novels, so I borrowed books from her."
"That's right, Ibuki-san. Don't misunderstand. We're just fellow book lovers," Shiina Hiyori said firmly, her gentle demeanor belying the determination in her voice. Ibuki Mio understood the message in her eyes.
"Is that so?"
Ibuki trusted Shiina's judgment. As the leader of Class D, the lowest-ranked class, she had to compete with others to avoid staying at the bottom. Even if she couldn't graduate smoothly, low private points would undermine her authority in class. Though Ryuen was quiet now, Ibuki sensed he hadn't given up on becoming class leader.
Seeing Hashima and Shiina as fellow book lovers, her initial reaction had been strong. Now, realizing he wasn't spying, her emotions shifted.
Ibuki Mio wasn't much of a reader. Raised in martial arts, she preferred physical activities, and her academic performance was average.
After sitting with Shiina for over an hour, she reached her limit. The book in front of her was just a prop.
Meanwhile, the other two were deeply engaged. Shiina Hiyori and Hashima each held a mystery novel, completely absorbed in their stories, oblivious to Ibuki's restlessness.
"Uh, I think I'll head back, Shiina-san."
Ibuki's gaze shifted between the two. Confirming Hashima wasn't a spy, she decided to leave.
Staying here was a waste of time. She'd rather exercise and clear her mind.
"Hmm? Are you leaving, Ibuki-san?" Shiina Hiyori placed her hand on the book and looked up at the short-haired girl.
"Yeah, staying here is just a waste of time," Ibuki said, her eyes on Hashima, who was still reading. "But Shiina-san, be careful. That guy is sly. Don't let your guard down around him."
"Okay, okay, I got it."
Shiina Hiyori noticed Ibuki's seriousness and smiled faintly. She had considered this before meeting Hashima.
As students from different classes, they had to be cautious in their interactions. With the competitive nature of classes, any misstep could lead to information leaks.
Despite this, Shiina Hiyori wanted to talk to Hashima. Finding a fellow enthusiast whose ideas aligned with hers was rare. She didn't want to regret rejecting him just because he was from another class.
So far, Hashima hadn't probed for information, so she didn't need to be overly tense. Normal interaction was fine.
However, as Ibuki Mio prepared to leave, she noticed a familiar figure ahead.
The girl had long pink hair, a well-proportioned figure, and a gentle smile. As she entered the library, she immediately drew attention.
It was Ichinose Honami.
Noticing Ibuki stand up, Hashima looked up in confusion. "Did you find something else, Ibuki-san?"
"No, I just saw an acquaintance. Maybe they're here to see you."
Ibuki Mio watched Ichinose Honami enter the library, her searching gaze obvious. The short-haired girl assumed she was looking for Hashima.
"An acquaintance? Who?"
Hashima placed a bookmark in his book and turned around. His eyes met those of the pink-haired girl.
"Ichinose-san?" Hashima was bewildered. She should be at the student council. Why was she here?
"Hashima-kun."
After greeting him, Ichinose's face lit up with delight. She quickly approached Hashima.
Upon arriving, she noticed the two girls sitting across from him—both familiar faces.
"Ibuki-san... and Shiina-san?"
Ichinose Honami stood beside Hashima. Seeing them, she politely greeted them.
"Good afternoon, Ichinose-san."
Ibuki, though dislike Hashima, had a favorable impression of Ichinose, so she greeted her warmly.
Shiina Hiyori, also acquainted with Ichinose, followed Ibuki's lead with a simple greeting.
"Good afternoon, Ichinose-san. It's a coincidence meeting you here."
"Yes, it really is."
Ichinose Honami's eyes and mind were sharp. She quickly noticed that Hashima and Shiina Hiyori had been sitting together, with Ibuki joining later. Both held books, and judging by the thickness, they had been together for a while.
"I didn't expect Shiina-san to be reading with Hashima-kun from our class. Did you plan this in advance?"
Though her smile remained gentle, Ichinose's eyes turned cold as she stared at Hashima.
"Well, Shiina-san and I are both mystery enthusiasts, so we sometimes read together here," Hashima forced a smile, feeling a chill. "But why are you here, Ichinose-san? Are you done with your work?"
"There wasn't much to do today, so the seniors let me leave early."
Ichinose Honami glanced at the two girls across from Hashima. A possessive feeling arose. She didn't like him being too close to other girls, especially without her knowledge.
Ibuki seemed clueless, while Shiina Hiyori sensed hostility. Knowing Ichinose wasn't Hashima's girlfriend, she remained calm and smiled faintly at the pink-haired girl.
"I see. That's good."
Hashima was initially tense upon seeing Ichinose Honami, but he quickly relaxed. There was nothing wrong with reading in the library. With so many people around, explanations were simple.
No need to worry about special scenarios.
A battlefield? Non-existent.
"Yes, since I finished early, let's head back to the dorm together," Ichinose Honami said softly, her eyes on Hashima. To assert her claim, she leaned close to him.
"Oh, right. It's almost dinner time."
Hashima quickly agreed. Ibuki's presence was fine, but with Ichinose here, continuing to read with Shiina would be inappropriate.
He closed The Magpie Murders and said to Shiina Hiyori, "Shiina-san, can I borrow this book for now? I'll return it once I finish."
"Sure, Hashima-kun. Take your time. We can discuss the plot later."
Shiina Hiyori smiled gently, then looked at Ichinose Honami and asked calmly, "Do you like reading too, Ichinose-san? I know this library well. Maybe I can help you find something."
"Thank you, Shiina-san, but I have too much to do right now. I can't focus on reading," Ichinose said with a smile. "We'll be going now. See you later, Shiina-san and Ibuki-san."
Without hesitation, Ichinose Honami took Hashima's hand, their fingers intertwining.
"See you later, Shiina-san, Ibuki-san," Hashima nodded at them.
Shiina Hiyori calmly observed their intertwined hands and said softly, "Goodbye, Hashima-kun."
After bidding farewell, Hashima let Ichinose Honami lead him away. He chose not to explain unless asked, as explanations could complicate things.
Once they left the library, Shiina Hiyori's gentle smile faded. Though her expression remained soft, it seemed to carry an additional layer of emotion.
"Shiina, are you staying here to read?"
Ibuki Mio was still out of the loop. She was surprised by Ichinose and Hashima holding hands but reasoned that they were from the same class and rumored to be dating, so her reaction was muted.
"Yes, I'll read a bit more. Are you leaving, Ibuki-san?"
"Never mind, I'll stay with you," Ibuki Mio sat back down beside Shiina, smiling. "Want to grab dinner together later?"
"Sure."
Shiina Hiyori nodded, feeling Ibuki's concern and warmth.
But then she heard the short-haired girl's muttered words.
"I wonder if Hashima is really dating Ichinose. He's really hit the jackpot."
"No, Hashima-kun isn't dating Ichinose-san. He's still single," Shiina Hiyori shook her head, seriously explaining to Ibuki Mio. "He told me so, and I believe him."
"How do you know?"
"He told me. I trust him."
"..."