"That's out of the question, Kawahara."

"Why? If you surrender every word you three have collectively then there would be real cooperation."

Keep the flaws up. Up. Up. Up. They can't decrease. The argument is colored with flaws all around it.

Even when I have such thoughts, this guy doesn't lower his stance one bit. His image on the outside might be what it is, but on the inside, Sagasuga keeps a stern balance hidden within. Every decision that he makes should impact equally.

That's what I've come to know about him.

In addition to this, regardless of the fact that my group has made clothes for themselves, his group didn't bother to do that.

What are they hiding?

"I don't agree with that type of cooperation though. There isn't any equal benefit to us. We can't just blindly entrust our words onto you, even if you speak about your cooperation! There should be an equal benefit here."

"The benefit is that you guys will be able to pass the exam faster by handing us the valuable information me. By doing so, we can make faster progress. This argument makes no sense in the first place. Just hand over the damn words, Sagasuga."

This time around, Sagasuga decided to place his elbow onto the wooden table that was available to all of us and softly adjoined his closed fist onto the right side of his cheek after doing quick thinking.

"I will agree that the argument doesn't make much sense, but if you can make such demands, then, is there any specific reason as to why we can't just equally make the same demands? There's no equality here."

Now, his enthusiastic look turned into a grimmer one. Someone's upset.

Light chuckles came to me as fast as my sanguine blood flows through my veins.

"There's no need for this 'equality' you speak of, Sagasuga. All y---"

"Equality is a very important element of balance. Unless your terms imply equality I will n---"

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talkin---"

"But you are not listening to me, Kawaha----"

"Just stop talking over my own fucking turn!"

Creating a harsh crack onto the table, I slammed my fist out of intentional rage.

Momentarily, I additionally created a permanent silence that scared off Tsudo, Tatsu, and Kuzan.

However, there was one person here who wasn't fazed by this and didn't hesitate when it came to speaking.

"You two are conducting this argument wrongly. Why don't you two take turns instead of talking over each other?"

"Yeah, I agree with Rayazaki here... You two need to chill out, seriously..."

Tatsu, in agreement, spoke up. I could've just stopped Rayazaki right there. I could've.

But opted not to.

"If Kawahara agrees with that, I don't mind. If he agrees, that is."

No longer with his fist adjoined to his right cheek and with a more positive outlook on the surface of his facial expression, Sagasuga spoke in agreement with Rayazaki and Tatsu.

They believe that they can just be in charge just because no one interrupted them under that moment of silence which purposely opened a path for them to voice their opinion.

Is it a coincidence that before that they didn't speak up? Come on, pay more attention.

"Sure. I'll defeat you even on equal terms. I too can play that game. Go first, Sagasuga!"

Display weakness concretely. Contrast your behavior. Abuse of those that are foolish enough to overlook evidence and focus on the facts.

"Thank you for your comprehension. As I was saying, your terms don't have any equality whatsoever, Kawahara. With that in mind, I would like to speak about my own version of cooperation. I do believe that it emphasizes far more on the equality aspect which contrasts your previous suggestion."

"That was no suggestion... It was a damn order."

"You're right, Tsudo. It was an order, instead of a suggestion."

Feeling confident enough to speak already? Come on, why do you advertise your gaze the moment I place my own eyes on your soul, Tsudo?

Sheep will be sheep. Pretending to be one is oddly fun.

"Sure thing, Sagasuga. I'll admit. My words had too much of an imperial tone to it."

But saying this isn't enough. Anyone can just see how black and white my lie here is. It needs more color.

"I do have trouble when it comes to associating emotional importance to others except to those that are under my control, such as Rayazaki and Kuzan. So, if I came out as undiplomatic, I sincerely apologize. I just wish that we could figure out a quick solution through a consensus!" 

Let's see if anyone's skeptical here. Line up, please.

"Don't believe him, Sagasuga, he's totally putting up an act... Just look at the way he's talking, it's full of sarcasm."

I didn't speak though.

"Hm? That's strange. Why would you say that, Tsudo?"

"That's because his behavior is strange... A genuine act doesn't fit him. It never did. He's one-hundred percent lying."

It's funny how Tsudo didn't say anything about the fact that Sagasuga said that he found his words strange.

All that matters to him is why he would say such words, but not the former as it doesn't involve Tsudo as highly as the latter does.

Peak egoism.

"That is true. What are your thoughts on this matter, Tatsu?"

Sagasuga doesn't explain why that's true, at all. Simple agreements are enough to make someone happy. You don't need to be intelligent whatsoever to make someone happy. All you have to say is yes instead of no.

Welcome to the real world.

".....He should not be trusted. We should go with your strategy, Sagasuga. Wouldn't you say so, Tsudo?"

"Yeah!"

Agreements. Links established. Yet core problems not solved. It's alright though. Solutions aren't needed, right?

All that's needed is just a collective agreement. Not based on reason, but based on emotion. Because, all that's necessary, is clearly not reason, but emotion here.

Fucking clowns.

"Oh, but I'm not being sarcastic. I just genuinely think that you three are right. My method was far too brute. So, I'm willing to listen to your version of cooperation. And besides, this is dragging out way too long. Can you get on with it already?"

A little bit of impulse here and there to show diversity. Applying evidence to the canvas. You can't ignore something that's painted on a canvas, can you?

"Well, I can definitely agree that we are dragging this out way too much. So, I'll just say it."

Taking a deep breath while simultaneously pushing his uniform's sleeves back, Sagasuga, at last, delivered his words.

"Let's swap words."

!

"Interesting. Reasoning?"

It shocked the rest of the others here the fact that I considered Sagasuga's take as interesting, but it was a genuine reaction.

I'm slightly interest to know his reasoning right now.

"That's demanding too much. I can only tell you my reasoning if your group entirely cooperates with us. For example, to prove your cooperation and alignment with us, you should give us proof."

"Proof?"

Currently, I'm following the train of thought that implies that I actually care for what Sagasuga has to say. His words alone are enslaved onto this alternative mindset that my mind has accumulated onto its own system in order for this to work.

Therefore, it's only natural that I show interest instead of constantly show disapproval.

"By proof, Kawahara, I'm referring to your group's loyalty. We can't just blindly trust you. And, as you can see this benefits us both. We are essentially trading our knowledge here. However, we will swap our words, but we won't tell anyone each other's words, if that's alright with you."

"That's dumb. They are just words, why should we have to hide them?"

"Ah, I forgot to explain a detail, forgive me. You see, I have Tatsu, Tsudo, and my word with me, under my bag. What about you, Kawahara?"

"It's the same for me."

He could just be making this up, but lying too much will only delay the progression here. My methods to hide the words aren't exactly mouth-watering in the sense where they are amazing or anything like that.

It's all for the purpose of keeping them with me.

"How smart of you. Though, this is all for the sake of security, you see. Here is how this would work in theory; I gather the three words we have, and you do the same for your own group. Then, we put the word inside the envelope, since the word is technically on a paper, and close it. Ultimately, we swap envelopes."

"That's how it should be in theory for you, Sagasuga. But to proceed to this, you said something about proof. Again, what did you mean by that?"

"By that, I was talking about a way to prove that you are willing to follow through with what I have just said. I believe you should surrender a word."

Sagasuga's words made Rayazaki's anger spark.

"That makes no sense at all! What's the point of telling us to surrender a word if by doing that, you are just going to know the word anyway!? What a waste..."

Not the best choice of words. Rayazaki didn't really consider this at all.

Still, I didn't call him out. After all, the ultimate decision was still up to me. Nonetheless, Sagasuga, again, went an extra mile to explain the reasoning behind this method of his to achieve loyalty in the consensus here.

"Don't worry! I'll explain why it makes sense! First of all, I will agree with you when you have said that it is indeed a waste to do this as the purpose doesn't really add up. However, by surrendering a word, you are already proving that you are willing to go through with this. It's true. The logic here will hold no meaning once the words are revealed. That is if Kawahara wants to go through with this."

"Then why don't you reveal one too? Why is this suddenly one-sided?"

Rayazaki's point right now isn't as bad as his last one, but it's still bad nevertheless. Here is why...

"That's because we have already compromised into cooperation. I only need you three to compromise as well. We will do it, naturally. But, even if you don't believe me here... Rayazaki, do you really think you are in a position to demand here?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Rayazaki could've just insisted on his point until Sagasuga budged because the truth is, the terms here are unequal, but there is no reason why I should intervene.

At the end of it all, what will ultimately be used as an example as to why we aren't in a position to negotiate will become clear.

"What?! How am I not?! What have I done?"

"Ahhh... Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean you. I thought that you'd be aware that when I say 'you', in this scenario, I'm referring to you three as a whole. Not you entirely."

"......Choose your words properly, man...."

Quickly losing his temper, Rayazaki looked at me. He knew that I hadn't done anything that would put our positions in danger. I even apologized. We are currently in good terms. A polite atmosphere has been established.

Gradually, we all started to look towards a single person in this house that made our position here terrible.

Surely, the thought of my incompetence must've reached out to Rayazaki. I did warn him not to eat anything that they offered him, which was the case. The same was applied to me, yet I rejected the offer.

So, the question here is, why didn't I tell this to the person who self-indulging right now? To be more specific, why didn't I tell Kuzan to reject their offer? He didn't need to be eating bananas, apples, and even grapes right now, right?

Yet he is. To the point where our looks aren't fazing him.

"Kuzan."

"Hm----Oh...."

Finally, he came back to reality as he took the last bite out of the scarlet apple.

"Er---- This isn't what it looks like!"

"No, you have clearly eaten what we offered you, Kuzan. It is what it is."

Already asserting the facts, Tatsu? Stop doing that...

I'm not confident about my ability to hold my laugh back.

"Um, but, okay? You guys offered me. I was starving. What's the whole deal anyway? It's a generous act, right?"

"Indeed! It is as Kuzan says! But, I do believe that equality is important to establish to keep things balanced..."

Sagasuga's obsession with balance is irritating, to say the least. Impressive how his brain connects everything to that worthless concept.

"So, Kuzan, in order to make things balanced here... could you, as an act of generosity from you, in order to pay back the favor, show us your word? I believe it makes more sense for it to be you as your position is negative in comparison to Rayazaki and Kawahara. No hard feelings, right?"

"Er.... That's...."

Unable to deal with Kuzan's lackluster defense to Sagasuga's words, Rayazaki decided to intervene.

"That's fucked up. How is that an act of generosity when you are using it as a way to get back t----"

I had to interrupt Rayazaki here. He's not exactly the brightest creature on this planet.

"It's alright. Kuzan, show him your word."

"....What? Kawahara, I---"

"It's fine. I said so. Understand that this is fine."

Even though I've said this, I'm the one that has Kuzan's word, so my words hold no merit whatsoever.

But...

....Perhaps I said too much just now...

I should not have said that last sentence...

"There's really no need to see my act that way, Rayazaki. The act was entirely based on generosity. I will admit that my current one might not reflect that, however, it's important to notice that what I aim to achieve here is a balance. If I offer you something, you should, therefore, offer me something. A fair philosophy, right?"

It's not a fair philosophy. It's also completely controversial. According to his logic, the request itself doesn't matter. What matters is establishing a balance. So, if Sagasuga offered me an apple and I would've eaten it, then if he had suggested that I would have to stab myself with a knife in my abdomen, this would've been completely fine and fair under his own train of thought.

Obviously, he wouldn't demand something illogical and unreasonable. The main point to note here is that if it follows a rationale that is acceptable, he will demand it.

This is actually more interesting than I initially thought.

"Also, I won't demand anything that's selfish or that doesn't benefit my group as a whole. As you can see, my act benefits both Tsudo and Tatsu. It's a collective effort, entirely. Please don't see my act in a bad light when it has good intentions."

"Well, that only matters if Kawahara agrees. If he doesn't, then your act is worthless, Sagasuga."

"Correct, Rayazaki! It's all up to Kawahara. Although... If he doesn't agree, then no one benefits here. If so, then we have just wasted a lot of time. Talk about unproductive, right?"

Laxing back, I placed my forearms on this wooden's chair upper parts thus contradicting my shoulder blades transiently.

Without any intervention from me on sight, their argument proceeded.

"In my opinion, we don't even need to reach a consensus here. This is all working in your favor way too much, Sagasuga."

"Is it though? If it was working in my favor, then how come we haven't reached a consensus yet? Isn't that proof that it's not working? Hm?"

...

"You are referring to the whole process, you idiot. That is not the same. I'm talking about the actuality. You have managed to put Kuzan in a bad position all for the sake of obtaining his word."

"I don't understand your point, Rayazaki. Sagasuga's right and you know it. What will it all matter if we will have the words and so will you? Kuzan revealing his word symbolizes that we have reached a consensus. Why can't you see that?"

Sticking to the facts, Tatsu decided to argue against Rayazaki.

"I never said that I didn't see that. I'm aware of it, but it doesn't change the fact that it's extremely opportunistic. You purposely set this up, didn't you, Sagasuga?!"

...

"Set up? Aren't you accusing me based on your superstition too much? All I do was offer food. We are in a savage territory. Our current environment contrasts with the scenario we are all familiar with. Does this look like a school for you? Is there guaranteed food every morning and night? Are there stores for you to buy food? Clearly not. Accordingly, is it really that strange for me to offer food to my own schoolmates? I don't think it is. As a matter of fact, you believe that I'm exhibiting a manipulative behavior here, which I am not. I wouldn't want anyone to starve because I wouldn't be able to live with that."

A bit passive-aggressive, I must say.

"If that's the case, then you shouldn't use the fact that you offered food based on the reasons that you've spoken of for the sake of acquiring Kuzan's message."

"Goodness gracious, Rayazaki. On behalf of my group, I did the right decision. And it's all for the sake of asserting loyalty. There are no traps laid around here."

"No, I don't trust you. I think you are lying. This is all too convenient. Kawahara, I say we take their words by force!"

Upon hearing Rayazaki's aggressive words and seeing him get up from his chair with his fists closed and ready to fight, Tatsu and Tsudo got quickly scared. Rayazaki's face was full of anger and ready to step up.

However, Sagasuga didn't falter and simply addressed this issue in a verbal way.

"Really, Rayazaki? By force?"

"Yeah! We are better when it comes to fighting so I'm pretty confident."

"So you are no different from a thug. You are simply someone who will resort to violence once your fragile ego gets damaged just because someone else had a different opinion?"

...

"I don't agree with your opinion, Sagasuga, and taking the words by force is the most effective method. That is all."

"Abhorrent. There's no need for that. Sit down, please. We are not primates. We are rational creatures who can work and shape ways around our differences through words."

Well, that's enough observation.

"Sagasuga has a point, my guy. We aren't primates. With that said, I will agree with Sagasuga here. Under one condition only."

Rayazaki was about to argue back against my decision but I made sure that I said something that would lower his skepticism.

"The trade of words can only happen between me and Sagasuga. The rest has to be outside of the house. If this condition isn't taken into the equation, we are not doing it."

"Hm? I see. Well, do you guys mind?"

That was quick... By suggesting Tatsu and Tsudo to leave, Sagasuga, in other words, has agreed with my condition.

Subsequently, I spoke to Rayazaki and Kuzan fastly.

"You guys leave too. And no beefs, please. I will shove a rock up in your anus if you try anything funny, Rayazaki. You too, Kuzan."

"W-What the hell..."

"Eeeeeeeek, please no, Master!!"

There were other alternatives, but no use in thinking about that.

In the end, they left, leaving me and Sagasuga alone in the room.

I tried to sneak through the holes in the walls of the house to see if they were spying on us, but they were not.

"What's with the expression, Kawahara? Your eyes are way too open. Chill out, bro."

"Have you ever tried telling a chick that, Sagasuga?"

"I wouldn't dare to. Because then, we would be talking about a different kind of 'eyes', if you get what I am saying."

"Honestly, the joke might be too complicated for a girl to understand."

"No way, Kawahara. I'm referring to the boobs, in this case. The boobs."

"Oh? I thought you were talking about the vagina and th---"

"Brooo. I would get killed if I ever tried that line with that meaning."

"But my point is that they wouldn't really come to an instant conclusion about the one I'm talking about. Though, you could still get slapped just by making that joke nonetheless, Sagasuga."

It's all fun and games until you receive a slap across your face and your date gets ruined just because you thought your sense of humor was amazing and that you'd get your joke across in a playful way.

"True. So, are you gonna give me Kuzan's word or not?"

"Oh, I will. Here you go."

Truth to be told, while we were having that stupid talk, I was organizing the papers and sliding them into the respective envelopes. Under Sagasuga's knowledge, I should only have three envelopes containing the three papers that have the respective word in each of them.

His knowledge and assumption are entirely restricted to the fact that I am only presenting three envelopes on the table. Naturally, I'm not showing him the words in the envelopes.

Instead, I'm carefully making sure that he can't catch a glimpse of them.

Thus, I gave him an envelope containing a message, which under his knowledge would be Kuzan's message.

That came in handy sooner than I thought it did.

"Hm. So that's Kuzan's word? You're really going through with this, huh?"

"You're not?"

"I am, I am. Don't look at me like that, Kawahara. You turn cold-blooded so quickly. That's not really ideal when it comes to getting a good impression out of someone."

"Seriously? Did you just indirectly praise yourself? How do you live with yourself?"

"What do you mean? I do just fine."

"You do try and always get a good impression out of everyone you come across, don't you?"

"Force of habit. Anyway, here you go. This is Tatsu's word."

For.

"This is definitely a wordplay, by the way, Kawahara. Another one, please. Rayazaki's?"

"Yeah."

This time, I did genuinely deliver the respective word that was supposed to be delivered.

"Interesting... Do you agree that we should all discuss the possible meaning of the words between just us?"

"Why the secrecy?"

This was not an opposition, but a question out of curiosity.

My question aside, Sagasuga handed me yet another envelope.

"We hold too much information. It's simply foolish to flat out share all of this. By the way, this is Tsudo's."

Will.

"Hm... 'Way' and 'the'? Kuzan and Rayazaki's words hold an affinity for sure. "

"Yeah. Without a doubt, there's a connection here. Out of all the words, those two will help out the most."

Kan's word synergizes well with Kuzan and Rayazaki's words, no doubt there.

"On the former topic, even if we do discuss this privately, they will want to discuss the meaning of this. Why do you think you can avoid this?"

"Kawahara, your stance when you are alone without your group is far more relaxed as you don't have to put up a front too much."

"Again with the indirect praise. Narcissist. Here's my word."

I handed him Kuzan's actual word and envelope.

"What the hell? Another 'the' word? Well, you have no way to fabricate this, so I can only assume that there are two 'the' words in the same sentence here. Assuming this is all part of a sentence."

"That's what I think too, Sagasuga."

Deep inside my bag, my own envelope lies in, buried. My word; protected.

"Here is mine."

Ultimate.

"Quite the strong word, eh?"

"Certainly, it packs more impact than the rest."

Seven words already under my possession. It's only a matter of time before the three others are gathered.

"Do you mind if I gather all of them together just so we can examine them?"

"Sure. But, explain your reasoning now. Why the swap?"

I'm dying to know what's his reasoning behind this.

"It's all for confusion. Six are greater than only four. Undoubtedly, the words here hold a certain meaning. But this is more than just meaning here. Maybe there's a specific order? Maybe only the ones who have the original owner of the word can do something with it? Tests need to be made, I think. This might be all for nothing, but we can fool others pretty easily. Neat, right?"

"So you've thought ahead too."

"Yes, I have. Unfortunately, this exam only has multiple purposes and I have to capitalize on every single one of them in order to win the exam. Yet we already have six words. Speaking of words..."

On Sagasuga's side, there were three words horizontally split.

Kuzan's word which is actually Kan's: Way.

Rayazaki's word which is Kuzan's: The.

And my word which is actually Rayazaki's: The.

On my side, there were also three words horizontally split.

Tatsu's word: For.

Tsudo's word: Will.

Sagasuga's word: Ultimate.

By the way, there is nothing telling me that Sagasuga didn't pull out the same move I pulled out on him on me.

Assuming that these words actually belong to the ones Sagasuga told they belong to, is a mistake to make.

"Way. The. The. For. Will. Ultimate. Hm, the keywords are missing here. Talk about bad luck."

I'll have to agree with the fact that this is bad luck.

"True enough. But your word is an interesting one, Sagasuga. Ultimate? That's an adjective, so it's undoubtedly giving a lot of praise to the word that is to be followed up."

"Could it be the word 'Way'? Ultimate way...? It fits."

"Sagasuga, I won't disagree but using the word 'The' adjoined to the word 'Way' also works. Plus, the fact that there are two 'The' words just increases the likelihood."

"I see. What about the word 'Will' though? It's absolutely referring to the acquirement of something. Utilizing the word 'Will' before the word 'Ultimate' should be referring to something. Something 'Will' give us this 'Ultimate' thing? Ultimate way?"

"Maybe."

This is all Sagasuga can assume. His knowledge is restricted. His mind is enslaved into connecting these six exact words.

Holding back my laugh is starting to become harder. Envisioning the words that I know from my perspective will provide greater insight.

By the order that I found them, this should become easy. The first word I bothered to check out was Kan's, which is 'Way'. Then mine: 'Words'. Kuzan's: 'The'. Rayazaki's: 'The'. Tatsu's: 'For'. Tsudo's: 'Will'. Lastly, Sagasuga's: 'Ultimate'.

Way. Words. The. The. For. Will. Ultimate.

Alternations are required, so as I stand here thinking, I'll quickly run over them.

Way the words the for will ultimate.

Way for words the will the ultimate.

Way will the---

No, all of this isn't necessary. The conclusions essentially all come down to the same thing. The fact that 'Words' as a word is present it should mean that it's making a direct reference to the words that are supposed to be collected. This means that it's one-hundred percent intentional. This confirms it.

'Way' is a really strong word here. Not giving it attention can turn out to be crucial here. It's definitely a reference to a path. Something that will enable this way. Therefore, what is the meaning of the word 'Ultimate'? Is it referring to the word 'Way' as Sagasuga said?

Am I wrong?

No, I'm never wrong.

More depth...

'Will' in this case is a confirmation. What is it confirming though? Is the word 'Words' a reference to the word 'Will'? Words will? Mhm? That makes sense. The words will. They will give us something, surely. These two words are unmistakably linked to each other concretely. More so, in the whole sentence next to each other.

'Words' alone could stand out. But if all is taken into consideration, there should be ten words in total, because each of us has ten words. I don't think that the possibility of some of us being blessed with more than a word would make sense. No, no, no... I can't think about that possibility that much. That's a dangerous game. My thoughts need more focus on what's important.

Kuzan and Rayazaki's words are pretty much useless, honestly. The words that are between them; aren't. With the current words, what are the words that would make the most sense to be after or before the word 'The'?

The Words. Logical. It works.

The Way. Fits inside the box way too well.

The For. This one doesn't work.

The Ultimate. Maybe...

All in all, the conclusion to take here is that any other word could give us a massive hint.

Us?

What do they know? Nothing. They don't strive to know. Their knowledge is limited but they just accept that as a fact and aren't disturbed about it. How nice. You all have such nice lives. Your brains can handle simple explanations as fuel for your easy to please happiness.

Very nice.

Admitedly, this sensation of superiority spreads like wild fire.