(Kazama Riku POV)

***

Anger.

That's an emotion I'm not particularly familiar with.

In fact, I consider myself to be quite easygoing and casual, someone people can befriend easily.

But over the past few weeks, I've been constantly feeling this drive to punch something.

No.

To punch someone.

'That shitty yakuza delinquent.'

Everything is because of him.

Yuzuki-san has been talking to me less and less lately, all because of him.

That redhead insulted my very existence, all because of him.

And though I wasn't sure before, even Hina has become more withdrawn, all because of him.

Why else would she be talking with those buffoons after the test? Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Neither she nor Yuzuki-san have said a word to me today, let alone a greeting.

I saw the latter talking with that asshole before the midterm started, and even though I couldn't hear her clearly, they were definitely talking about some money problems.

Was Yagami threatening her?

Why else would she run away in fear?

Maybe that is why she's been distancing herself, out of fear and worry for us!

It was my duty to help her out, as a friend!

.....And as a man.

But I'll need to play it safe, I can't just waltz in between them and declare that he's lording something over her.

Not only would I need proof first, either for legal or academic disciplinary action, but it could ruin Yuzuki-san's reputation.

Which would affect my chances with her if she blames me.

'No, I can't let that happen.'

I couldn't help but glare at Yagami's cocky back before, during, and after the first midterm exam ended, my attention completely diverted as I focused more on how I can insert myself into their group.

Like a spy mission.

'Kazama Bond has a nice ring to it....'

By the time I had figured out a nice little plan, almost half of the allotted time for the exam had passed.

And the only thing I had written on my paper was my name.

Well.....

I quickly erased the latter part of 'Kazama Bond' and added Riku, a little embarrassed at the thought of what would happen if that pissant of a teacher noticed it if I'd handed it in like that.

'Shit.... I'm screwed, aren't I?'

I never had much hope for the midterms, resigned to my fate at the bottom of the rankings, but this was even worse than I thought.

They might end up suspending me from the E-Sports Club if I don't at least pass, since this annoying school claimed to have a 'balance' between academics and extracurriculars.

Which was just bullshit in my opinion.

'Oh no, I'm getting distracted again.'

I put my head down, picked my pencil up, and beathed out with determination.

'Let's do this shit!'

***

"Haha.... I'm gonna fail."

My self-deprecating mutter was drowned out by the obnoxious chatter of the other students, many of whom didn't seem much happier than me.

This gave me some reassurance that perhaps the test was designed to be impossibly difficult.

At this point, I can only hope that they grade with a curve and raise my scores.

I gave myself a firm slap on both cheeks, forcing myself out of my depression when I noticed Yuzuki-san and the two nerdy geeks head up to the front, where Hina and that delinquent were sitting.

'Poor Hina must have been terrified of sitting next to him.... Will her scores drop too?'

If her grades fell, then maybe she wouldn't nag me like she usually did, so my fingers were crossed as I stood up and tried to build up the courage.

The infiltration plan?

Act super-friendly and leverage my friendship with the two beauties to join in on their conversation as if it were something normal!

'Mhm, I'm pretty smart!'

But it was harder than I thought it would be to keep a neutral and approachable face.

Just the sight of Yagami casually joking around with both of them pissed me off, so I kept hovering around to restrain the frustration that threatened to boil over.

I finally managed to adorn my most charming smile and stepped up to them.

"Watcha guys talking about?"

The conversation that they were quietly having, stalled to a halt as every pair of eyes turned towards me.

Hina looked.... I'm not sure; her expression was a little complicated.

'Wait.... Is that bastard threatening her, too?'

Yuzuki-san, on the other hand, frowned at me.

'Don't worry, I'll save you, so there's no need to look scared!'

I really wanted to say that out loud and earn some points, but now wasn't the time.

The others looked confused, except for Yagami, who was just staring at me indifferently.

Pushing down the nerves, I continued talking since no one responded, probably out of surprise.

"How'd you all do in the exam?"

"....It was fine. Um, you're Kazama-san, right?" the purple-haired girl in pigtails replied, easing the awkwardness that I was feeling.

'Whoa, looking up close, she's also super cute. But not as much as my two girls, lolol.'

"Yes, but you can just call me Riku, I don't bother much with formalities," I chuckled, smirking confidently with my hands in my pockets.

"Haha, I see.... Well, how did your math exam go?" she replied, a nervous chuckle escaping her mouth.

'Seems like my charm knows no bounds, hehe.'

"Me? Well, it was more or less fine, I guess," I sighed, lying through my teeth. "Hina, how was yours? Were there any distractions?"

I glanced at Yagami when I said that, who still hadn't said a word for some reason.

My expectations were torn apart, which wasn't good.

I was hoping he'd blow his top off when he saw me, giving me a reason to pull the two girls away and crashing his reputation once again.

He'd been quiet lately, not causing any trouble, which was worrisome.

Either it was because he was focusing on targeting Yuzuki-san and Hina, or he was planning something big.

Hina blinked at my words, seemingly puzzled at something.

"Distracted? What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Never mind."

She was genuinely unaware of what I was referring to, and that gave me hope.

Maybe that gangster was aiming for Yuzuki-san at the moment and hadn't gotten to Hina yet, making me straighten up with happiness that I had noticed and intervened before it could happen.

I turned to the blonde gal, but stiffened at the fact that she was still frowning at me.

"And you, Yuzuki-san? I heard you were aiming for the Top 10, haha," I laughed, trying to ease the obvious tension with a joke.

"What's so funny about it?"

"Huh?"

I raised my eyebrows at her icy tone, taken aback at the fact that she seemed offended by what I said.

"Nothing, I was just joking around. It's good to aim for the sky, because that determination might get you into the Top 100," I encouraged, nodding proudly at her effort.

But I was scoffing inwardly.

'She was near the bottom with me at the entrance exam, isn't it nothing but a joke to make such a jump?'

If she had studied her heart out, maybe Top 300 was possible, but I couldn't say that out loud for obvious reasons.

"Wanna bet?"

I turned to the deep voice, which made me flinch for a brief second, and saw that Yagami finally spoke, an arrogant grin on his smug face as he rested his head on his palm.

"Bet? What do you mean?" I asked, my tone much less friendly than it had been with the others.

"That she can get into the Top 10."

"...."

I was proud of the fact that I was able to hold back the giggle rumbling inside of me, but my lips still quavered like a snake.

".....He already did."

Another voice hijacked my reply, a timid and quiet one that made me incredibly confused.

Hina crossed her arms and repeated her sentence.

"He already kind of made a bet. Riku said he'd lick his own foot and post it online if Haruna-chan manages to get into the Top 10."

"....What?"

My mind started swaying as I tried to focus on what she said, while the others stared at me with shocked expressions.

"You really said that?" Yuzuki-san mumbled, her eyes trembling with disbelief.

"Um.....I..."

Come to think of it, I did say something along those lines when I was chatting with Hina, but.....

"Then it's settled. If Haruna does it, you keep your word. If she doesn't.....Hmmm, I guess I'll do the same?" Yagami interjected, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"WHAT?"

The other 4 people, aside from me, all exclaimed at the same time, with Yuzuki-san even slamming his table with incredulity.

"It's only fair, isn't it? You can't have a one-sided bet," he chuckled.

'...Why is he so confident?'

I started to get a bad feeling about this. What if she really was some sort of secret genius hiding her true abilities??

'No, it's more likely that he's just bluffing for fun and will back out of his word later. I wouldn't put it past him.'

Thinking that, I was a little relieved.

But looking at Yuzuki-san's hostile glare directed at me, I knew I'd fucked up either way.

'Hina, what the hell! This isn't fair!'

Just when I wanted to defend myself, Kahawara Sensei re-entered the room.

"Everyone, back to your seats! I'm going to distribute the second exam soon!"

Yagami yawned as he shifted in his seat and faced the front, waving his arm at the others.

"Good luck, guys."

I tried to think of a way to explain, but everyone had already left, leaving me standing in the middle with nothing but irritation at how my plan had gone to shit.

There was zero information obtained, and I was somehow saddled with a ridiculous wager that I never agreed to!

"Oi, Kazama! Are you deaf? To your seat, now!"

"Y-yes, sir...."

I shuffled back with complicated feelings.

'Actually.... this isn't so bad.'

When Yuzuki-san inevitably misses out in the rankings, I can make a big deal out of Yagami backing out on his word, giving me some leeway!

This was now war!

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