The elite minus

Chapter 25:Childhood friends from the age of two?

Rokonusuke liked to groom his hair. This was an well known fact among the students of Class D.

Not because someone asked him or because he himself stated that. But after a guy does that so many times while looking at his hand mirror, which he takes everywhere, even a bunch of idiots start to piece things together.

As such, he was quite grateful that Kumagawa offered himself to adjust his mirror. As Rokonusuke is the heir of the Kouenji Conglomerate, if Kumagawa keeps this up he might just get a job as a personal assistant in the future.

On the other hand, however, Ryuen was not at all amused. In fact, he found this situation to be irritating.

Ryuen:How long are you going to keep up this freakshow?

Rokonusuke:Are you talking to me? Really, you are quite the scoundrel.

Kumagawa:[If you're talking to me, I must dissapoint you. I'm a natural freak, you see.]

Ryuen clicked his toungue. These two aren't taking him seriously at all.

Well, it's not such a bad situation. While anyone could be the mastermind behind Class D, Ryuen actually has an list of most likely options.

Rokonusuke was one of them, as he had abilities well over the level of Class D and his weirdo personality might be a facade so people wouldn't suspect him. Kumagawa was on that list as well, he's more than he seems and he just gave the feeling of the kind of sketchy guy that'd enjoy that to Ryuen.

Suzune:Knock it off, Ryuen-kun.

It seems Suzune had enough as well. She knew that Ryuen had a liking to solving problems with violence, but she didn't expect him to just gang up on Rokonusuke in broad daylight.

Ryuen:Quiet, Suzune. I'm playing with those two right now.

Suzune:Is that what you call assault?

Kumagawa:[Hey, hey, you shouldn't throw accusations like that around, Suzune-chan. Ryuen-chan hasn't really attacked anyone yet. It quite the accomplishment for him! It's just that, he's in a tough spot in our game right now. And he's a sore loser too.]

Ryuen:Tch!

Arisu:My, my. Isn't this an interesting collection of people?

A third party has joined this game, it seems. Arisu approached the two groups with her own grup behind her.

Said group of Arisu was formed from Masumi, Masayoshi and Hayato. While Arisu had a large number of followers in Class A, these three are the ones she keeps the closest.

Ryuen:Sakayanagi, huh? What suspiciously good timing.

Arisu:I'm here by coincidence.

Ryuen:Don't make me laugh.

Arisu:It's the truth. I was happening to take a leisure walk around campus, when I heard a specific tone. Of course, there's only one student in our lovely school that speaks in brackets.

Kumagawa:[Oh? Am I becoming famous?]

Arisu:More like infamous...Well, I suppose that is a type of popularity as well. It's been awhile. How have you been, Kumagawa-kun?

Kumagawa:[It's fine, I don't make any discrimination between good and bad attention. As for how I've been...Shouldn't I ask you that? Are your classmates okay? I've herd there was an horrible accident on the Island Exam about a large majority of Class A having food poisoning and having to retire close to finishing the exam. I have no idea how something like that could happen. Maybe they're done something to piss off some forest spirit?]

Arisu:Fufu, indeed! Poor Katsuragi-san had taken quite the hit because of that.

Kiyotaka stood behind Suzune and Ken, watching the interaction. A shiver run down his spine.

He doesn't know why. But he feels like those two should have never meet.

Arisu:But let's not dwell on the sad past. The Island Exam had been so long ago, after all. I just wanted us two to catch up. To think I'd stumble in a discussion between Class D and Class C...Are you planning a Christmas party?

Ryuen:Back off. I don't have any business with you.

Arisu:Come now, is there a need to be so hostile? When it comes to party planning, the more the merrier, right?

Kumagawa:[Haha, sorry, Arisu-chan. No Christmas party, I'm afraid. Me and Ryuen-chan were just playing a little game, you see. He's quite possesive of his dibs, you see.]

Arisu:Oh, those are sad news...

Arisu covered her eyes, making a mocking show of crying. It looks like she was enjoying this as much as Kumagawa was, if not even more so.

Kumagawa:[Of course, we can spend some time together after this. We're childhood friends from the tender age of two, aren't we? What kind of childhood friend would I be if I just kicked you aside like that?]

Arisu:Ah, I understand. Kumagawa-kun has grown up, hasn't he? But it makes me happy that you still have place for little old me. I really wanted to catch up now. But well, if my beloved childhood friend asked me that...I suppose I can be a good girl and spectate until the end of your game. Is that alright with you, Ryuen-kun?

Kiyotaka silently observed this interaction. Yes, these two are a deadly combo in a number of ways.

Also, he's pretty sure that the two of them are, in fact, not childhood friends. If they were, than Kumagawa would have recognized Arisu's name when he found out about the class leaders and those two would have spemd time together much earlier.

Not only that, but Arisu also claimed herself to be Kiyotaka's childhood friend on their first interaction despite not having meet previously. Least to say, both Arisu and Kumagawa must have a pretty twisted idea about friendship.

Well, he wasn't much better either. But he's pretty sure he can take the moral high ground here.

Ryuen, for his part, looked completly done. It looks like dealing with the two of them at the same time was too much even for him.

Ryuen:Fine, just shut up already. If you plan on sticking around, don't interfere.

Arisu:Of course. I wouldn't dream of embarassing the party organizer.

Arisu passed by Ryuen and sat down on a bench. Her three followers stood around her like they were supposed to be her shield for the uncoming bloodshed.

Arisu's words only irked Ryuen further. The way she phrased it made it unclear if she was refering to him or Kumagawa.

Arisu:Please, proceed.