ter environment.”

I already know Himeji-san has someone she likes, so her reaction didn’t surprise me at all.

“..Is that all you have to say?”

“Yes. I’m sorry for taking your time, but I do want to express the love in my heart to you no matter what.”

What I’m surprised at however is Takashiro-sempai’s action. Of course, I already knew, even without him saying things so clearly, that Takashiro-sempai really likes Himeji-san, and he’s willing to bear such risks and express his love to her. From his actions, I can tell how earnest he is when he says this.

To be honest, I do feel that his direct method is very cool too.

“Takashiro-sempai, I—”

“It’s okay, Miss Mizuki. There are still many moments awaiting the relationship between me and you.”

He interrupts Himeji-san’s words, showing a gentle smile on his face.

“..Sorry. Let’s go.”

Himeji-san gives up on saying anything as she heads to the entrance. Minami, Hideyoshi and Muttsurini then follow her out.

“..”

Yuuji stares at Takashiro-sempai for a moment before going out of the classroom as well. Maybe he probably understood Takashiro-sempai’s actions from his own viewpoint because of Kirishima-san.

“You aren’t following them out as well, Yoshii-kun? You don’t have to be so cautious; I’ll keep to my side of the bargain and won’t hurt you here.”

“Of course I will. It’s rare of you to show some mercy here.”

“Hahaha. I do feel that your honest attitude is a virtue.”

“However, since the strategy I thought of failed, I have to be in charge of covering them at the back.”

In this situation, no matter what the enemy says, I can’t guarantee that they won’t attack immediately after we leave the classroom.

While I’m thinking about this, Takashiro-sempai seems shocked in response and asks,

“Please hold on for a moment. That attack just now..wasn’t something thought by Sakamoto-kun?”

“Eh? You really think so?”

“Yes. That’s an audacious plan that nobody other than him can think of.”

Is that so? If you really think of it this way, that’s a really grave mistake.

“This plan is something I thought of.”

“Is that so? I apologize for this.”

Takashiro-sempai gives a bow, and then mutters as he looks at my face,

“Speaking of which, Yoshii-kun, it’s really shocking to me that you have such a unique way of thinking like Sakamoto-kun.”

“No, that’s not the case.”

“There’s no need for you to be so humble.”

“This isn’t being humble.”

“But to be able to actually think like Sakamoto-kun—”

“If it’s that guy thinking of a strategy for real, you won’t be able to stand here like this, sempai.”

“........Oh?”

Upon hearing my words, Takashiro-sempai narrows his eyes.

“That truly is an exaggerated saying.”

“Because what I said is the truth.”

I said what I really thought.

Right now, my strategies can’t match Takashiro-sempai. This level of planning I have now is going to be unable to beat him.

But even if I can’t, that guy can definitely do it. That guy can definitely do something I can’t do, that guy has countless things I don’t have—because he’s someone I admire.

“How unfortunate. If you’re the one actually making the strategies, I wonder if Sakamoto-kun has given up the desire to win now?”

Takashiro-sempai shows a taunting look in his eyes.

“Please don’t worry. I’ll give him the all-use method of repairing a TV set passed down since ancient Japan.”

I’ll kick that back that’s not moving forward. I’ll use the most effective method I can think of now. After that, there’s no room for me to interfere.

“Normally speaking, that violent method will cause the television to break down, you know?”

“Will it, I wonder? From what I see, letting us free here will cause you to regret this for the rest of your life, sempai?”

Upon hearing my declaration, Takashiro-sempai answers me with a relaxed smile.

“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it then.”

In this situation, Takashiro-sempai’s smile will not waver. But I said what I wanted, and it’s meaningless for me to remain here

“Please excuse me now.”

“Yes, farewell, Yoshii Akihisa-kun.”

I turn around to leave the classroom.

I enter the corridor, arrive at the stairs, and find Hideyoshi watching out for any enemies hiding downstairs.

“So it’s Akihisa? You’re slow here. What did that Takashiro say to you?”

Hideyoshi looks back at me and asks,

“Nn, a little. He told me that my method’s still a lot less despicable compared to Yuuji.”

“If that’s not enough, what else is..”

“I have a pure innocent heart after all. That seems to be my limit.”

“..What causes you to say that?”

“Seriously.”

They seem to be laughing it off as if it’s a joke, but I’m very serious here..

“Huh? Speaking of which, where’s Yuuji?”

I can see Himeji-san at the stairs platform, observing the situation downstairs, but I still don’t see Yuuji around here.

“As for Yuuji, he should be right at the back..eh, what’s going on here? Isn’t he there?”

“Hm?”

Now that this is mentioned, I turn around, and find Yuuji standing in front of me without me knowing.

“Yuuji, you’re late. Did you notice anything strange?”

“..”

Even with Hideyoshi asking him, Yuuji continues to head downstairs wordlessly. What is it? He looks a little..

“What’s with you, Yuuji?”

I’m a little concerned, and lower my head to look at his expression. And then..

“Ku..kuku..”

“Yu-Yuuji..?”

“HAHAHA..! HAHAHAHA!!!”

Yuuji again puts his hand on his face and starts laughing, just like the time before we went out to attack. What’s going on!?

“I’m unhappy..really unhappy now. To think that I can still remain silent after being beaten up by someone.”

Yuuji suddenly says such vague words. I-is he alright..?

“Good grief. I’m seriously, really really unhappy deep inside now. I never thought I’m—actually being viewed as the same level as you here.”

Yuuji ignores my worry as he says out the frustrations from inside his heart, and starts laughing away for some reason.

“That’s absolutely true. I’m the only one who can handle the entire situation in this predicament, instead of you, instead of that person. Even if you guys can’t do it, I can definitely do so.”

Yuuji stops laughing and murmurs,

“What’s with this me, pushing my responsibility to someone else after just a few disadvantages? This is the situation where I should be the one stepping up rather than anyone else, right!?”

He says that, and suddenly grabs his face. Wha-what!? What’s going on!?

“Sakamoto. What exactly, are you..?”

“Ah, it’s nothing..sorry. Looks like I’m dazed after dosing off just now.”

Yuuji answers Minami’s concern and lifts his head that had been looking down.

His eyes that are looking up—again show the strength he had before.

What’s going on? I really don’t know what happened to this guy.

“Let’s go everyone! The commotion just now hasn’t calmed down yet! Let’s use this chance to escape the new building!”

That’s an arrogant voice that came from deep within him. I really don’t know what’s going on..but well, it certainly does sound like his usual flair now, right?

“Yuuji, even if you say so, how do we actually escape from here?”

“Yeah. The 3-B upperclassmen who just evacuated should be back soon, right?”

“..We’ll meet up on the way.”

“First, we’ll meet up with the F class guys downstairs. We’ll discuss the strategy there!”

Yuuji hurries down the stairs and agilely heads to the temporary base we were just in. It looks like he has his own thoughts. I’ll believe in him and follow him then.

Our F class classmates, who evacuated the seniors and understood the truth after entering 2-B classroom, are waiting for us there.

“Ah! How’s the situation, Yoshii!? How exactly did it fail!?”

“It’s s strategy you thought of anyway! We already knew it’ll fail!”

“Anyway, we need to regroup somewhere— ”

“““—Sakamoto!!”””

Everyone’s stare naturally gather upon Yuuji.

..Speaking of which, is it really a given that my strategy would fail?

“Oi Sakamoto! What do we do!?”

“We’re going to be completely annihilated at this rate!”

“Alright! Leave it to me! We’ll abandon this classroom immediately! Everyone, escape from the new building!”

“Escape, you say!? Are you an idiot!?”

“There’re still 3-B guys on the way, you dimwit!”

“If they’ve already finished meeting up, there might be other 3rd year classes around, you bastard!”

“I know these already! Please believe in me and head on courageously!”

In the face of the questions and scolding from everyone, Yuuji makes a formal response.

Upon seeing Yuuji answer with such a confident look,

“““Understood!”””

They charge out of the classroom and run down the stairs.

“Mizuki, let’s hang on!”

“Yes!”

“No, we’ll remain a little further behind from the rest. Don’t move too far away from me.”

Yuuji stops Himeji-san and Minami who were intending to head out, and we continue to move forward while being slightly behind everyone else in our class that’s attacking.

And after walking forward for a little while,

“You guys sure have guts to trick us here..!”

“You better be prepared here, you second year bastards!”

“Don’t you dare think you can walk out of here alive..!”

It’s just like what we expected. The 3-B members meet up with our F class comrades as we return to the first level.

“Sakamoto, what do we do now!?”

“It’s about time for us to hear your strategy!”

I can hear the expectant voices from everyone in our class.

“OH! LISTEN UP, YOU GUYS!”

Yuuji faces them,

“—ALL OF YOU ARE TO FIGHT TILL YOUR DEATHS HERE.”

And simply says this to them.

“““......Huh!?”””

“Sorry! There wasn’t any plan right from the beginning! Please help act as bait for the few of us to escape; I’ll let you guys decide on how to protect yourself! Looking forward to see you fight till the bitter end!”

“““YOU! YOU BETTER REMEMBER THIS, YOU BASTARRRRDDD!!!”“

“SHUT UP! I’LL SHOW NO MERCY TO THOSE WHO CALL ME AN IDIOT, DIMWIT, BASTARD!”

Th-that’s the worst..! What I did is extremely underhanded, but this operation itself is just as despicable as how Nemoto-kun abandoned us. It’s really despicable. Because of this, we’re exchanging insults and countering over the issue of saving and betraying our comrades.

In other words, things are just as usual.

“Right, we can finally handle this thanks to everyone’s sacrifice! Everyone else is to head to the courtyard!”

“Yuuji, charging out is no problem, but how are we going to break through the 3rd years on the courtyard!”

“Look for a health education territory, and break through there using Muttsurini’s strength! If he’s weakening, Himeji and I will step up!”

“You sure that’s enough?”

“If things get worse, I’ll betray some other people!”

Yuuji says this as he points at our classmates who’re making noble sacrifices. Though he can’t use it too many times consecutively, and can’t maintain this for long, but we might be able to break through with the power of the bracelet.

“Then after meeting the main team?”

“I need to first know the battle strength of the second years. For that to happen, Nemoto’s existence is a hindrance.”

“Fm fm. In details, please?”

“The dead can’t talk.”

“Wahhh..”

How is this guy able to say such a horrifying line?

“Well well, look at me now. It seems that my thinking process has become a lot sharper while I’ve been focusing on my studies.”

“..”

I feel there are so many things I can argue back here, but it’s best for me to remain silent.

“There’s no need to worry about trivial things like vocal rights or working together. If nobody’s going to accept me, I’ll make them obey me, whether it’s by threat or by assassination. This is my—our F class modus operandi.”

Yuuji declares this as he continues to run, with no signs of any doubts in his eyes anymore.