I was alone in the Pallette.

After Sakura went back to the dorm. I wanted to think a bit so I went to the Palette.

I looked at Sakura's pictures. This could prove that Sakura was there and saw the incident.

The point was it couldn't prove how the incident was.

Sakura was low credibility from begin, we couldn't use her to change the situation that much.

But this was all card I had.

I believe in my luck.

I trusted my luck.

And I believe whatever card I drew, it was always the best card, although it didn't seem to be.

I just had to deal with it.

"Ayanokouji-Kun!" I heard the bright sound from behind, When I turned my face in that direction, I saw Kushida standing behind me.

"Hey, Kushida." I greeted her. "What are you doing here?"

"I have an appointment with my friend, what about you?"

"Me too, I just finished----"

I looked at Kushida's face and realized something.

"What's wrong, Ayanokouji-Kun?"

I didn't want to use it this way, but I didn't have any other idea.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You want me to teach you how to blackmail?" Kushida said with a naive sound.

"We're alone, just use your true voice," I told her.

We were in Kushida's room. This was the first time I was in the girl's room, so I was a bit nervous.

Although I didn't show it on my face.

Kushida was surprised by my word before started giggles.

"I don't expect that from you, Ayanokouji-Kun. Where is the idiot who said he's sick with blackmailing? You're just a wolf in sheep's close."

Maybe I.

"Tell me, Ayanokouji-Kun. Why do you want to blackmail someone?"

"I have evidence to prove Sakura is witness, but it couldn't prove how that incident was," I explained. I was sure Kushida must know what incident I was talking about.

"Then, I realized, if we couldn't win with the card, just make our opponent fold. I have to bluff them, make them believe we have evidence that will expel them. And threaten them to drop the suit."

This was the best way possible. In the trial, we couldn't fight them.

But no crime, no trial, no punishment.

"Huhu, you're wicked, Ayanokouji-Kun. What's the problem them?" Kushida said with a devil face. 

"I don't know how to blackmail," I replied. "So I have to ask professional, should I forced Ishizaki to grabbed my...."

"Stop! You idiot!" Kushida shouted. "And what do you mean I'm a professional?"

"You tried to blackmail me once, sent Chabashira-Sensei Horikita's clip to blackmail her."

Kushida sighed.

"Understandable." She looked at me. "I wonder something."

"What?"

"Why do I have to help you?" Kushida grinned. "If I don't help, will you blackmail me?"

"Nope, I told you, I sicked of it."

"And you're begging me to teach you blackmailing?"

"I don't want to blackmail them, I need to blackmail them," I said. "You should help me because if Sudo was expelled----"

"----Our classroom lost the point, just like the last time? That idiot destroyed the class again and again. If he got expelled, we'll be happier. And if you and Horikita got expelled, I'll be happier."

She was like Horikita. But when Horikita accepted to help Sudo, she did it whatever it take, I didn't talk with Horikita for a while. She always stayed on her desk and thinking how to help Sudo.

Kushida was different.

When she said if you and Horikita got expelled, I'll be happier. I felt like she wanted everything going like that.

But I wasn't that naive.

"Kushida, do you know charity?"

"Of course, butthead, everyone knows that word. " Kushida said annoyed.

"If you do something good to other people, you'll be repaid someday. " I said. "This's why people do charity. They believe they'll get Poonya, and Poonya will repay you someday."

"So do you tell me you want me to do it for charity?"

"No, Poonya was too abstract. " If it wasn't me, no one would believe it. "But if you help me, you can be certain I will repay you someday. And from your experience, you'll know I can do anything for you."

I looked into her eyes. That evil's eyes.

"Kushida, please do me a charity."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had another mission.

Horikita told me Sudo's problem was never fixed if we didn't improve his personality.

So on Monday, after school. I was waiting for someone in my room.

I heard the knock so I said;

"Come in."

The door was opened. Sudo walked into my room. When he saw me, surprise appeared on his face.

"W---What the hell!?" He shouted.

I understood why he was so shocked.

I was in a leather suit and high-heel shoes. The whip was in my hand, I waved it around.

Don't look at me with those eyes.

I just couldn't find any suit. This whip was sold with the suit.

"What the hell!?" Sudo screamed.

"This's the way to help you, Sudo. " I said with the monotone.

"Wait---what---" He looked at the whip. "Will you use it to me?"

"Yes." I nodded.

Sudo walked backward for a few steps.

"I-----I--- don't like that way, Ayanokouji. You're my friends---" He stuttered. "I mean I like to hit with the whip but it has to be queen type girl like Horikita---"

"What?"

"What?"

I shook my head. "Don't worry. Nothing sexual. I ain't S. I just like you, M."

Sudo frowned. 

"Do you know what is M and S?"

"Sure. M is the Main character, S is the Support character. You are the protagonist in the basketball team, I am the protagonist of this fiction."

"What fiction?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Forget it, I have to train you until you're calmer. Sit here."

Sudo was still confused. Maybe he was too confused until he did what I told him.

"Where is Horikita? I'm here because you told me Horikita will be here."

I didn't say anything. I locked his wrist with a shackle. 

"Sorry, I lie to you."

I lied again.

"What!? Son of a bitch! Release me!" He got angry.

"Don't worry. This was Horikita's permission." I told him. Well, only a part about improving Sudo's personality.

"Really?" Sudo raised his eyebrows.

"If Horikita said so---"

Good job.

I walked to face him.

"Listen, Sudo. This is the method that I invented, inspired by the Kaizaku method. The Zen's mediation. How? Maybe you're curious. I will try to provoke you. You have to calm yourself. If you got angry---" I flicked the whip. "I will hit you with this whip."

"What the fuck!?" 

"Horiktia----"

Sudo pursed his lips. 

"If it's Horiktia. This means I am tortured by her." He started smiling. "Come on, Horikita! Hit papa's butt! Baby!"

I thought he missed the concept. But as long as he wanted it, there was no reason to reject it.

"Ok."

I breathe in.

"You're just a scumbag basketballer who will never succeed in your life!" I said.

"You son of a bitch!!!!!!" Sudo yelled.

Whip!!!

"OSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Baby!"

"You're just a fucking useless delinquent, everyone hates you!" 

"I will kill you!"

Whip!!!

"MAMAMIAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

"Although he appeared only 10 volumes. People still talk about Yamauchi more than you!!"

"What do you----"

Whip!!!!

"ITAIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!"

"Despite hating Shinohara. People still shipping Ike and Shinohara more than you and Horikita!!"

"Agh!!"

Whip!!!!

"Come on baby!!!!!!"

That night, Sudo's screaming was loud over the dorm.

The next day, in the first year, there was a rumor about the screaming ghost in the dorm. It became the 10th mystery of ANHS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was Tuesday, after school.

We had an hour before the judgment began.

I and Ichinose were waiting for them at my favorite place, the Moonshine. Kushida suggested I bring Ichinose with me.

You have to make your opponent believe in your credibility, Ichinose-Chan was well-known. She was the most credible girl in our class.

In fact, Horikita looked worried about this plan.

"Are you sure it will work? If it won't, I, you, and Sudo will be expelled."

"It will work, Horikita."

This was our last chance.

That was why I had to tell a big lie.

If it wasn't because of Sakura, I will never do this.

Sakura was a liar, she lied since became an idol, and when she wasn't anymore, she still lie.

All lie was a sin.

But sometimes, you couldn't do anything but lie.

How could I blame Sakura for that?

That man told me not to lie because he didn't want any sin to decrease my luck.

But if I didn't lie now, I will be a sinner.

Sometimes, the question wasn't to lie or not to lie.

But lie for what?

Ishizaki, Kondo, Komiya came on time. They looked paranoid. There weren't many customers in this cafe, except Horikita who waiting in the student council room.

"Ichinose. " Ishizaki looked surprised when he saw Ichinose. "And--- who are you again?" He looked at me.

Ah, another pain.

"I'm Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, class D. I'm sure we met once."

"Oh, you're that guy, who's brave enough to deal with that thing. Look, although we were enemies now, I personally respect you, bro."

Ishizaki said. He was a pretty good man though.

"Let's talk about our business," I said. "Before that, do you guys want some waffles?"

They flinched and shook their head harshly.

Ichinose asked me with confusion.

"What's wrong with them and waffles?" 

"Nothing." It looked like the Horikita monster was scarier than I thought, I heard Kiriyama, the student council member, was still a clinique, he collapse every time he saw waffles.

"About our business. I'll make you an offer you can't refuse. " I took it seriously. "I want you to drop the suit."

Ishizaki laughed as I was insane.

"Do you idiot? That bitch hurt us, and you're telling me to let him free?" He said.

"Yes, he hurt you, but you're the one who started, aren't you?" Ichinose said.

"Don't be kidding! Do you still think the school still believes you after you hiring people to lie?" Ishizaki ridiculed it. His sidekick laughed too.

"I'm afraid the one who hiring people to lie is you," I said. "And the school will trust us, because when we took advantage of the truth, why do we have to lie though?"

"In the case, your truth is the real truth," Komiya said.

"Yes, in that case, the ones who will be expelled weren't me or Sudo or Waffle monster. But it will be you and your puppet master. Maybe the fake witness that you sent to lurk us."

"Oi, oi, you're too far. We didn't do anything, right?" Kondo asked his allies, they nodded.

I sighed. "Do you know every witness didn't have evidence to prove them seeing the incident?"

"Yes."

"But there is the one who has," I said and sent Ishizaki the photo.

It was Sakura's selfie photo, but I blurred her face, so they didn't know who she was.

When Ishizaki saw himself in the background of the picture, his eyes opened wide. He suddenly grabbed the picture rip in.

"Today, we have a thing called digital file. Do you know?" Ichinose said with a smile.

"H---how do you get this?" Ishizaki stuttered.

"Well, someone could take your picture. It's my luck that we could find him." I said. "He didn't want to relate with our problem. I have to ask him again and again for these pictures."

"What do you mean these?!" Kondo shouted.

"Well, it's plural. This photo is just an appetizer. The main dish is more delicious than this." 

"Yes, I tasted it, and I have to tell you. It will make your eyes explode!" Ichinose helped me.

"Do you mean the picture of the incident?" Ishizaki said like whispering.

"No, no. We don't have any pictures." I said. I could felt relief from Ishizaki and it was destroyed in a moment. "It's a video. Very good quality video."

Those class C's guys lost all color from their faces.

Ishizaki was the first one who could pull himself back.

"You're just bluffing."

"Maybe I, maybe not." I shrugged my shoulders.

"If you have evidence, why won't you take it to the student council right now?" Ishizaki asked. "Why do you have to ask us to drop the suit?"

"Because I wasn't sure we will win," I replied.

"The mastermind behind you was genius, I admitted it. He could use only 5 people to destroy our evidence. I wasn't sure if he destroy this evidence too. But our gambling had crossed the lines. I wasn't sure I will win, but I wasn't sure we will lose either. If you took another plan, we would strike you back. I bet, you raise. You bet, I raised. Now everything going too far. We will fight until someone win. Who lost, he will bankrupt with no doubt."

When I said bankrupt. I mean expelling.

Ishizaki and his comrade looked at each other eyes. I was sure they knew what I mean. Kushida told me these three weren't that smart, this trick couldn't use with a smart guy. But it was more than enough for these three.

They scared. They were pressured. They had to decide now.

"I---if you took the video to the council. you would win, wouldn't you?" Ishizaki asked. I noticed he asked the same question. This was the sigh of fear.

"As I told you, this's the most secure way. More than that, I want to do some charity." 

"Huh, charity?"

"Poonya's investment. You can use this phrase too. However, if I helped you now, I was sure, you will be useful in the future. Ichinose, would you mind explain them?"

Ichinose smiled and started speaking.

"Class B and Class D tried to fight with Class A. But everyone knows class A isn't piece of cake, we need class C's powerใ I believe if we all gather, we will win class A! Because----"

She looked at my eyes.

We were lying.

There wasn't anything like class B-C-D ally. We knew if the war really started. Class C will gather with Class A without a doubt. This was naturally mechanics.

Class B and C was opponent. Class C had to win class B before fighting with class A. And class D was the weaker, no use to ally with us.

But this was in the game too.

We gave the chance for class C to cooperate and betray us. We acted like the naive who was too innocent for this world.

The hound thought we were sheep. They thought they could eat us easily.

But we were the wolf in the sheep's cloth.

This was planned by the most genius of class. (At least I think so.)

Horikita, Hirata, Kushida.

And the luckiest guy in the world, me.

Ishizaki still didn't say anything.

I sighed.

"It looked we can't deal, right?" I said. "I will take that video to the school though."

"Ishizaki! Just admit it! I didn't want to expelled!" Komiya screamed.

"Yes! I don't too!" Kondo said too.

They maybe didn't notice but they had shown their card already.

They didn't have any plan left. So they were afraid they would lose.

"Shut up. I will call that guy first!" Ishizaki tried to calm himself.

But I didn't allow him.

"I will call too," I said. "Horikita and Sudo are waiting in the meeting room. They'll be sad if I told them everything doesn't go on its way!"

"Ishizaki!!!" Kondo screamed.

Ishizaki punched the desk and stood up.

"Fuck it! Find I will drop the suit!"

"Right now," Ichinose said.

"Right now!" He shouted and ran out of the cafe, his comrade followed him.

I waited until I couldn't see them, then I sighed with relief.

"Damn. That's so hard." I mumbled.

"We did it! Ayanokouji-Kun!" Ichinose said with happiness and grabbed my hand, she released it immediately though. "You were a good liar, you know?"

"Don't say that. " I said tiredly. "I never lie that much in my entire life. It's so hard to hold my face."

"Really?" Ichinose tilted her head. "But you keep your poker face all the time!"

Ah, I forgot it.

"Thank you again, Ichinose," I told her.

She smiled brightly. "No need! We're friends."

Actually, Girlfriends, but I decided to not mention it.

I looked at my girlfriend and watched the time. There were 45 minutes left.

"Ichinose. " I called her name. "Do you want to go on date?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo was running to the school.

They didn't know Ayanokouji's plan at all. They were still confused.

"How is it going like this!?" Komiya mumbled nervously.

"Ryuen-San said it was a perfect plan!" Kondo said.

"It's because you idiot didn't check around first. " Ishizaki gnashed. "How you let 13 people saw us!?"

"I checked it! Ishizaki!" Komiya protested. "But people came from nowhere."

"Who's that man?" Kondo said with himself.

"What?" 

"That's Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. He dared to mess with that monster. Ryuen-San said class D was out of a card. But Ayanokouji still strike us back!"

Ichizaki became silent for a while.

"Maybe, he is another genius." He whispered. "Remember what Ryuen-San said? Hirata has leadership, but he is too weak. Horikita is smart, but can't lead the class, and meek sometimes. So he is confident no one in class D can destroy his plan."

"Maybe Ayanokouji is a hidden genius!" Kondo shouted,

"Maybe he's just lucky," Komiya said but Kondo punched his shoulder.

"What an idiot idea!? You're always the dumbest guy in our class, Komiya." Kondo said and told Ishizaki. "He still believes the world's round. What an idiot Komiya."

Ishizaki sighed, he didn't want to work with these idiots after all.

"Stop talking and----" He stopped his words when he saw someone was waiting for them in the way. 

"Ryuen-San?" Ishizaki called him.

That man grinned when he saw them.