Third Person's Point of View

STANDING IN THE NEAR OF THE POOL, Kōenji laughs heartily in front of his classmates.

"Welcome back from the test, all!" He laughs again, making some pissed. Sudo stomped over to Koenji.

"Hey, Kōenji! We lost 30 points because of you!" Sudo said but the male just sip his drink and laugh unfazed.

"Calm yourself. I was laid up and in poor health."

"Damn you. Cut the crap! Quit glistening with pool water."

Axel on the other hand put his hand on his mouth to stop from laughing, even though it's such a waste to drop their points. Axel smiled while looking at Koenji and chuckled.

'He is a really funny guy.'

After that Axel notices Kiyotaka being uninterested and they both walk away from their class group. The two boys made their way through the stairs until they heard a faint voice calling over them.

"Wait!"

The two stop and turn to see Horikita under them as she pants. It took a while until she raised her head to them.

"What's going on here?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

On a certain room

"IT ALL HAPPENED MORE OR LESS as I expected. The Katsuragi faction will lose a great deal of influence." Sakayanagi said through the phone as she grabbed her chess pieces.

In the speranza dorm hallway, a student from Class 1-A, is Hashimoto who spoke to Sakayanagi through the phone, he walked through the hallway as he continued conversing.

"Yes. If we're united heading into the second term, Class A will be invulnerable."

Suddenly Hashimoto's eyes widened as a lot of Class A students surrounded Katsuragi.

"Katsuragi's here. I need to hang up! " Hashimoto said quietly, waiting for the other person's reply.

"Yes. Well done."

Hashimoto then quickly ends the call as he walks towards the fuming crowd.

"How are you gonna take responsibility, Katsuragi?!" He said.

"That contract you signed was a huge mistake!" Yahiko tried to fight back. That is a loyal dog to you.

"You all signed off on it, too!" Katsuragi didn't look fazed as he continued to listen to their complaints.

"This is just pathetic, Katsuragi!" Hashimoto said as everyone stop to look at him.

"Hashimoto." Yahiko angrily said.

"Having someone as untrustworthy as you around is why Katsuragi-san couldn't move around in a crowd! And because of that."

Hashimoto just smirks. Before Yahiko could continue, Katsuragi placed a hand on his shoulder.

"O-Oh."

"Hashimoto, you were in contact with Ryūen, weren't you? You sold the name of Class A's leader to him."

Hashimoto only chuckled before walking away to the opposite direction not caring if he were stared at.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

IBUKI CLOSE THE DOOR from the room where Albert is busy shaving Ryuen's beard. It was a quiet moment as she force out her bravery

"Sorry."

A chuckle can be heard from Ryuen as he relaxed himself.

"I've figured it out."

Ibuki turned to him curiously. Albert already finished cleaning Ryuen's face and wiped it with a towel.

"The reason for their high score and the reason ours was zero. It's because we didn't guess Class D's leader."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

HORIKITA LOOKED AT THE TWO BOYS sitting down in disbelief. Kiyotaka didn't look at her as he repeated. Axel nods his head, while his head is on Kiyotaka's shoulder.

"You're not our leader, Horikita."

Kiyotaka put his hand on his pocket and showed something on Horikita, Horkita's attention to see a card lying down on Kiyotaka's palms. As Suzune got a clear view of the key card, her eyes widened.

"Ah- What's your name doing on it?"

"Just because the test ended, I changed D's leader. You can't change leaders without a good reason, which means that if you do have a good reason, you can change leaders. A leader's failing health is a good reason." Kiyotaka explained. Horikita starts thinking.

"I remember now, you said that I should follow your order right."

"Yes, beside your body you didn't make it now if you still insist on going back to our camp." Kiyotaka said, making Horikita nod. She cannot believe that this guy pulled this idea.

"Beside Kiyo read all the information in the book. So as a result, Ryūen and Katsuragi named you as a leader, and they were wrong." Axel said.

Horikita faces Kiyotaka warily.

"You arranged all of this, didn't you?"

"We did." Kiyotaka replied. Axel shaked hi shead making Horikita look at him.

"He planned all of this, I helped him a little but this is all his planned." Horikita looked at Kiyotaka but Kiyotaka only sighed.

"Ibuki was a spy, so I destroyed her digital camera. As a result, Ibuki would need to steal the key card itself. We also waited until your condition had worsened sufficiently." Kiyotaka then continued.

"In Day 6, I ask Axel to intentionally get you to show your card to Ibuki, get you dirty, get you to visit the waterfall, and lure Ibuki into stealing your card. Axel said that he will do something that will make the camp chaotic so he asks someone to throw the camp into a panic, giving Ibuki the opening she needed to escape." Kiyotaka adds.

"But We manage to get the Card on her hand. Axel knocks her off and gets your card into her hand. It looks like she still said to Ryuen that you are our leader even though she didn't get the card."

"Then you got me to drop out and change our leader." Horikita said as she understood it quickly.

"Initially, I'd hoped to earn points through spot occupation, but I saw Katsuragi leaving a pot with a card in hand." Kiyotaka.

"So A's leader was Katsuragi-kun?" Horikita

"Nope , Katsuragi is a cautious man. He wouldn't do anything so careless. He wouldn't even occupy a pot in a place and time that someone else can see him. It was a performance to detain the fact that someone else had occupied the spot without asking him first. Thus, we were able to confirm that A's leader was Yahiko, the person with him then." Axel said.

"As for Class C, we knew that Ryūen was still on the island."

"When we're with Ryūen, there was a radio next to him. Ibuki had one of the same radios. If Ryūen himself was in contact with Ibuki, it meant he must still be on the island. We became convinced that Ryūen was C's leader. "

Horikita holds her breath as she continues to listen attentively.

"It was at that point that we switched from a spot occupation strategy to a leader identification strategy, and we used you. We left Class B alone."

"In the long run, our alliance with Class B would be to our disadvantage, and there was a spy from C in Class B, too, so we confirmed that their leader would be guessed even without any action from us." Axel said and yawned after that.

Horikita was a bit convinced by the outcome.

"And as you surmised, B's leader was guessed, causing them a serious loss of points."

"Having one's leader named is a loss of 50 points and all bonus points are negated as a result." Kiyotaka said.

Horikita seemed to know as she eyed Kiyotaka.

"You really put one over on everyone. Ayanokoji-kun, you claim you have no interest in reaching Class A. Why, then, did you help me? What is it that drives you?"

"Hmmm no I was just concern on Axel, he was getting tired everyday because of helping this class. But If Axel wants to climb and reach Class A, I will definitely help him" He said, making Axel blushed and put his head on the back of Kiyotaka.

Horikita crossed her arms.

"Tsk are you to datin–" but she got cut off when.

"They are there!"

Horikita blinks when she hears Hirata's voice, she turns around and sees the whole Class D minus Koenji crowding over to the three people.

"We were looking everywhere! How'd you three do it? Because of your three the class D won!"

"Huh-?!" Horikita was confused. Because she didn't even helped on the two boys' plans.

"Hirata-kun told us you were the one who sacrificed and helped to figure out who is the leader. While Arison and Ayanokoji figured out A's and C's leaders!"

"You three are amazing!"

Karuizawa continued to compliment, not noticing the troubled expression on Horikita's face. Karuizawa glanced at Axel, Axel smiled at her.

"Ibuki-san, she tried to run away, so you chased her, right?"

"Axel said that's the reason you were under the weather!"

"So cool! Total friendship!"

"Wh-What are you talking about?" Horikita asked with a look of disbelief. Horikita looked at the two boys, Axel just gives her a peace sign while Kiyotaka didn't even react.

Kiyoka looked at Axel wgo also receiving some praise, he tapped his shoulder and whispered something. Axel just nodded.

By the crowd, Kiyotaka went away, and Kushida from the crowd then walked towards him.

"Horikita-san sure is popular, huh?'' Kushida asks as she smiles looking at the girls surrounding Horikita.

"I suppose she is"

"I really do hate her, cecause, for better or worse, she has no hidden side. She's the opposite of me." Kushida said and let out a sigh.

"Most people are like that. As am I." Kiyotaka said.

After "praising" Suzune Horikita, Axel comes towards the two person which are Kushida and Kiyotaka.

"Heya!" Axel said, looking at Kushida. Kushida giggled before facing the two boys.

"Ne, Ayanokoji-kun, Arison-kun. "

"Hmm?"

"Yeah?"

"If you had to choose between me and Horikita-san." Kushida's usual face from the public was nowhere to be seen but it was still soft enough that anyone could shake that away.

"You'd choose her, wouldn't you?" she said as she looked at Kiyotaka. Kiyotaka put his hand on his pocket and looked up at the sky. Axel on the other hand, on his thought he start punching Kushida because of the stupid question.

"I will not choose." Kiyotaka said, Kushida curiously looked at him. Innocently tilt her head.

"Why?"

"Dunno." Axel facepalm at his response, actually he is slightly curious who he is gonna pick between the two girls. Axel is slightly disappointed with the question but he cannot stop Kiyotaka, he has his own life. And he don't want to control Kiyotaka's life.

"Hmm me too." Axel agreed to Kiyotaka. Kushida crossed her arms. Kiyotaka felt disappointment in Axel's voice.

"Hmm Meanies. Mmpphh." Kushida pouted and started walking away. Axel sighed. Kiyotaka looked at him.

"Why are you looking disappointed?'' he didn't finish his sentence when his phone popped a notification. Kiyotaka scrolled his phone from his pocket. Chabashira is texting him.

<No subject: Meet me at the theatre.>

Axel also read this.

'Why does she want to meet Kiyo?' Axel's thoughts.

Kiyotaka just sighed and put his phone back in his pocket and looked at Axel.

"You didn't answer my question." Kiyotaka said, making Axel look away. Of course Axel also asking himself what is happening to him.

"It's nothing." Axel said.

Kiyotaka just sighed and walked in front of him. Kiyotaka gently cupped Axel's chin and with that their eyes met.

"If you also asked me who I'm going to pick between the two of them. I will not pick because I don't have any interest in them." Kiyotaka said, Axel lowered his head and blushed.

"W-what are you s-saying now huh, y-you playboy."

Kiyotaka's lips slightly form a smile.

"It doesn't matter, I will always pick you. Remember that."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

In Theater

KIYOTAKA STANDS BESIDE HIS  teacher as he looks at the scenery outside.

Chabashira crossed her legs as she sat on one of the empty seats.

"First, allow me to commend you two. I'm genuinely impressed."

"You're satisfied, then? Then tell me, is it true that man asked you to have me and Axel expelled?" Kiyotaka said and glanced at her His teacher gave a slight chuckle.

"I won't do any more for you without proof."

"I know everything about you. That's proof enough, isn't it?" Chabashira looked up.

"The wings of Icarus."

Kiyotaka raises his head up to see flocks of birds flying through the red sky.

"What about it?"

"Icarus took flight in order to be free. But only because his father, Daedalus, instructed him to make the wings and take flight. He wasn't flying of his own free will. Doesn't that sound just like you and Axel?"

Chabashira squeezes her cigarette pack as she stands up.

"That man, your father, said this. "Someday, Kiyotaka and Axel will choose expulsion of their own accord." You two will burn your wings under the sun, fall into the sea, and die."

"It's out of the question." Kiyotaka watches as Chabashira walks past him. Chabashira stops walking halfway.

"Poor, tragic Icarus. What will you two do next?"

"I think you know that. Icarus didn't heed Daedalus' warnings."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

IT WAS NIGHT AND KIYOTAKA thought it was time for him to go back to his room and meet Axel. He is now thinking of sleeping in Axel's room, nodding to himself and walking outside. As he walked out of the theatre, he was met with a long black haired girl.

"I finally found you." Horikita said as she took in her breath. Kiyotaka didn't take it as fondly.

"You again? What is it now?" He is impatient, he was in a hurry and he wanted to see Axel. He was clearly craving for him.

"Are you trying to use me as a cover?"

"Horikita, do you remember what I and Axel said to you back then?" Kiyotaka paused.

"You need allies."

"You two did it for that?" Horikita asked and she was clearly taken back.

"You've finally started to change." Kiyotaka let out a sigh.

"You two are the ones who are at fault." Horikita looked away, she hadn't felt embarrassed in a while that she was told that anyone would do anything for her, even just to get some acknowledgement.

"I will acknowledge you as an ally, too. Still, I don't want you acting buddy buddy with me but Axel is fine since I was comfortable with him and once we're back at school. We're only working together to reach Class A. But, I will say one thing. Thank you and I will talk to Axel also later to thank him too. Not that I'm saying that I need you two or anything."

Kiyotaka looked at her.

'That's right, Horikita. You need allies. You need someone, so you should feel lucky now.'

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

At the same time

IT WAS DARK, AXEL'S SOUND of shoes echo as he alone walks through the hallway all the way where he spots someone he's supposed to look for.

"What did you want to talk about? Kushida?" Axel smiled innocently while putting his hands in his pocket.

Earlier, Kushida sent Axel a message that she wanted to talk with him in the silent area. After meeting her, Axel notices that her hair covers her eyes as her face points to the ground, not saying a word.

Axel smirks.

'Does she found out? She seems smarter than I thought.'

"Heya Kushida is something wron–" Axel didn't finish his sentence when Kushida talked.

"Axel Arison, you know something about me, don't you? My other self, I mean." Kushida directly looks at Axel, with a death glare. Axel looked at her and tilted his head.

He looked confused.

"Kushida I think you misundert–" Kushida interrupts him again.

"Stop pretending, I know that you know about it."

"You don't have evidence." Axel said still his calm and innocent look.

"I have, since the beginning of school, you've been with Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san most of the time. " Kushida said and lowered her head again and clenched her fist.

"Huh? But Kiyotaka is my friend? Please stop this already Kushida." Axel said while smiling he raised his two hands and it looked like he was surrendering.

"Ha right, are you two really dating?" Kushida asked, and she was clearly curious if the two boys were dating or not. Because of that question, Axel slightly blushed but Kushida didn't notice that.

"We're not Kushida." Axel said. Kushida scoffed as he irritatedly looked at him. It looked like Axel didn't plan to reveal himself.

"I'm leaving." Axel said and started walking away but Kushida started talking again making him stop. But Kushida is currently facing the back of Axel.

"When I asked Ayanokoji-kun if you were with him when he found out about my secret, he said that you weren't with him, but since you were both the last ones in his room, I knew he was lying that you were sleeping. And I always notice someone staring at me. And the way you talked to me. I know from the start that you don't like me, but that night happened. You start observing me. So that I start suspecting you that you also know my true personality. And this paper...you wrote this I'm right?" She said and showed the piece of paper.

The message that was written in the paper was 'Burn the manual before evening, or I will tell everyone who really you are.'

Axel looked directly at Kushida.

"Ha. That's right, I know about your secret. So, what will you do now?" Axel finally said but still with his innocent personality.

Kushida then immediately went directly towards Axel. Kushida leans forward to Axel with an intimidating look and that look is really scary. Axel raised his left hand while his right hand was still in his pocket.

"If you tell anyone about this, you'll pay."

"How, exactly?"

"I'll tell everyone you–'raped me'" Axel smirked making Kushida taken back and looked at his phone. She has a clear voice.

Kushida's eyes widened when she heard her own voice, it was time Axel showed her the recording of her earlier conversation with Kiyotaka.

"You're gonna do that to me? Right?" Axel asked and paused the recording and walked towards Kushida. Kushida looked at him with disbelief.

"Give that t-to me!" Kushida lost her composure as she tried to steal the phone's of Axel. Axel raised his hands so that she couldn't steal his phone. Axel is smiling while looking at the frustrated and defeated Kushida.

Axel grabbed the hand of Kushida making Kushida wince in slight pain she reserved. Kushida looked up and saw Axel glaring at her. Kushida started sweating.

'T-that is Arison-kun ri-right?'

Axel removed his hand on Kushida's hand and put his hand on her chin and raised it so that their eyes met. Axel eyes clearly show no mercy, it is more like, if you say something not good. You will be killed immediately.

"You're really pissing me off, you know." Axel said, making Kushida lowered her head but Axel didn't make her. She cupped his cheeks and glared at her eyes.

"When you threaten people who are really important to me...You know... That day I really want to destroy you." Kushida didn't answer, she wanted to cry, she wanted to run away.

After a few seconds of complete silence, Axel releases Kushida, which allows her to breathe again. Kushida coughed and looked again at Axel.

Kushida again receives an evil smirk coming from Axel.

"This is your last chance.. If you bother me again, especially Kiyotaka. I will not hesitate to end you or kill you."

Kushida trembled at the killing intent. The dark aura coming from Axel, she cannot breathe properly as she puts her hand on hes chest. This is the moment that she will never forget.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

Back to Kiyotaka and Horikita

HORIKITA LOOKED AT KIYOTAKA who is looking at the ocean. She was confused about one thing.

"You told me, you want a peaceful life. Why did you tell me that you are also part of the plan? Our class will again expect your help in the future, you know." Horikita asked.

"I cannot tell you."

"Hmm, it's fine as long as you also help me to reach Class A." Horikita said as she crossed her arms. She was clearly shy right now. Kiyotaka just stared at him while his two hands were in his pocket.

"Now again I will acknowledge you as my ally, so tell me if you need s-something and I will also help you." Kitotaka remained silent and just stared at Horikita. 

'But, Horikita, I've never once thought of you as an ally. Not you. Not Kushida. Not Hirata. All people are nothing but tools. It doesn't matter how it's done. It doesn't matter what needs to be sacrificed. In this world, winning is everything. As long as I and Axel win in the end. That's all that matters. '

'Axel is enough, he is the only person that I need. Only him.'