Dinner time.

Even though it's dinner time, Rayazaki didn't come to the dining hall.

Everyone except him was already having their long-awaited dinner beforehand. I say long-waited because none of us unless we count out Susaga, Kawahara, and Hyunda, had a single meal yet.

Rayazaki was no different. This isn't thought of preoccupation yet if he doesn't come to eat then he will really take a heavy blow.

The last time we had eaten something was two days ago.

It doesn't matter whether or not he remembers this, his body will surely remember.

Regardless, he was nowhere to be sighted. If I recall correctly, he didn't even bother to attack me or anything like that.

As soon as I broke his phone he just stood there crying like a little baby.

That pissed me off so hard.

"Fucking coward..."

Yes, I was eating at a table completely isolated from everyone else. It's not as if they were talking all together though. In fact, some of us got even colder to one another.

Kan and Ryoken could not trade glances at all, otherwise, they would just kill each other out of impulse.

Tsudo seems to be pissed off about Sagasuga even though he is with a calm and serene expression right now.

Oh right, I can tell that because Sagasuga is right in front of me right now.

"What? Can't you see I'm devouring this curry like there's no tomorrow?"

"Well, can't I join you? I'm starved as fuck too, just for the record."

Well, of course, you are. After all, you went through the same as me.

"Suit yourself. Touch my curry and bend your spine."

I wasn't joking about bending his spine. Nobody, but I mean this, NOBODY, touches my curry.

Mine.

M.

I.

N.

E.

But seriously, what the hell does this man add up to his food to make it so tasty? I'm on the verge of crying tears of joy.

Ignoring my dangerous words, Sagasuga took a seat in front of me. It's at times like this that I forget that I'm sharing moments with people who have committed crimes of high magnitudes yet the only one I supposedly know the crimes he committed is standing in front of me right now.

But, with all things considered, his words don't match with his actions. Why would you become so physically competent when all you had to do was murder a few people?

I understand the requirements of physical utility but it feels like it was a bit of an overkill. Hence, I'm suspecting whether or not Sagasuga's words were true or not.

"How did you win?"

"What do you mean?"

Sagasuga's question could be interpreted in a lot of different ways, therefore I asked. Though realistically speaking, he was undoubtedly referring to the decisive battle.

"Don't play dumb. No one here knows except me. I was the only one who saw you pass to the finals with my defeat."

Truly, Sagasuga's on point. There was no point in asking me who won since everyone's freedom indicated that they had been freed for a certain reason. That reason being, one of us had won. Either I or Sagasuga, it didn't matter who, what mattered was that the endgame result was manufactured.

In the end, it wouldn't be uncommon for Sagasuga to be curious about how I won.

Before answering that question of his, I, once again, dove my spoon into the curry thus taking a wide portion of it right into my mouth.

It was blazing hot, but that's how curry is supposed to be eaten. An alternative argument would be that curry can also be eaten cold. I would agree with that. Curry can be eaten both hot and cold, preferably.

Nevertheless, you can't argue that curry is better when warm. Plus, it's spicy as hell. I love spice.

"Hey... Did you listen to my question?"

"Mhm."

Taking my time to chew all that down, I finally gave my answer.

"I delivered a mighty strike onto King George, end of the battle. Simple, right?"

"Hey. Don't fuck around. If I probably couldn't land a hit on him, then how can you, someone who still has a broken bone on his calf, be able to?"

That's a really good question, Sagasuga. However, what you are perceiving right now in your imagination is without a doubt not what happened.

I'm confident to a reasonable degree that Sagasuga is thinking that I and King George brawled it out and then I, in an epic clash, managed to hit that abomination.

The hell. How dumb do you actually have to be to believe that?

Alternatively, I also believe that Sagasuga is holding this questioning in order to confirm the truth. If that's the case, then calling him dumb is wrong. He's just being cautious about it.

"Do you actually think that it was a normal fight?"

Paying an extreme amount of attention to the words I just spoke, Sagasuga paused his movement and thus, the spoon that had a considerable amount of curry in it did not go inside his mouth.

"...Hm, so, in other words, it wasn't a physical battle?"

"No, it was a physical battle. But... just not what you are thinking about, probably."

"What? Explain."

Whether or not Sagasuga would believe the truth was out of my caring perimeter. To completely say that was all there was to it, would be a blunder. What if Sagasuga didn't accept the truth in a gentle manner?

I'm not saying that I can't deal with Sagasuga. but---

Actually, that's literally it. I have no way to deal with his mood. I like to believe that even if I told him the truth that he wouldn't snap, but I wouldn't know.

A Brachial stun in the balls heals far quicker than a broken bone, which I'm referring to my broken calf, of course...

"Does it even matter, Sagasuga...? I won, that's all that matters."

"No. I'm curious about how you won and what sort of physical battle you two engaged on."

If King George was somewhere to be seen, I would've called him over in a very dignified and respectful manner, but such was not the case. King George was completely missing in action today for some reason.

After he made the dinner for all of us, he just left the scene. I wonder what's up.

"Can you solemnly vow that you will not get pissed off regardless of how dumb and ridiculous the truth might be?"

"Huh? Is that what was going on through your mind? Why would I get pissed off though?"

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe because you almost flat out murdered two of your dormmates in a non-official real-life Street Fighter tournament?

Nothing to worry about that for sure! It's just your everyday thing to smash everyone who dares to oppose you once you are in the mood to crush someone, isn't it, Sagasuga?!

"Well, okay..."

Yet again, I dug a huge portion of curry with my spoon and ate up.

"Lend me your ear, no one else can hear this."

"Damn, I'm curious now."

Perhaps my hot breath made him uncomfortable since his right ear twitched.

After laying out the information necessary out to him, I resumed my furious curry digging.

"I don't believe y-"

"It's the truth. Don't bother questioning it."

"No, no matter how you look at it, there's no way that your di-"

"Shut up and accept the damn truth. It happened."

Here was I, trying to convince Sagasuga that what truly happened was what I just told him. Also, I couldn't let him utter such biased words like that. The nerve, I swear.

"But it makes no sen-"

"I'm serious. It really happened. I know that you can't picture it, but I'm going to need you to accept that version of the truth since it's the actual real version."

Why are you doubting me you dubious bastard? Are you that confident that your katana can overwhelm my holy Excalibur?

Don't get cocky when I have the genetic advantage you damn rat.

"Bah, whatever. All that matters is that you achieved the result."

I'm glad you finally understand that there was no meaning to this talk whatsoever.

"By the way, where is Rayazaki?"

"Hm? Probably sulking in his room."

"Huh!? Rayazaki? Sulking!? No way that's possible!"

"Well, it's my fault actually."

Wrong actually. It was Rayazaki's fault for acting like such a beta. How foolish of him to think that I would overlook his bloomer behavior. Hopefully, he learned his lesson and doesn't try anything funny next time.

"What the hell did you do..."

Huh? Why is Sagasuga looking at me like that? No, you've got it wrong.

I didn't do anything that's incorrect. Maybe I did something wrong, sure. But, it was certainly the correct choice.

But before that, I had to confirm something first.

"Sagasuga... You saw my battle against Rayazaki, right?"

"Yeah, I did. Why? Did something happen during that fight that it's related to the fact that Rayazaki is sulking right now?"

"Well... You recall when I applied the Brachial stun to end the fight, correct?"

"Yes, I watched it. But why is that relevant? Again, how does that connect?"

"Don't jump onto conclusions that fast. Let me explain it first."

Sagasuga's casual obnoxiousness was getting on my nerves.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Ah, sure."

"There is a side consequence of the Brachial stun. Since the Brachial stun that I applied to Rayazaki's neck was specifically aimed at the Greater Auricular Nerve, it exists a connection between the nerve and the spine."

"I see. But, what of it?"

Can this guy not interrupt me every damn second, please.

"...The ultimate consequence is that, even though the chances are low..."

"Yeah? What? Seriously, tell me."

"Fuckin' hell, Sagasuga, Rayazaki lost a portion of his memories thanks to what I did!"

"Huh!? How is that even possible!?"

"The whole idea behind the Brachial stun was to create a strike that would facilitate knocking someone out with a single hit. Thus, by hitting the carotid artery, a pressure point, Rayazaki was knocked out."

"Yeah, dude, I know that! But, how the hell did he lose a portion of his memories of that!?"

"Well, it literally turns out that since the carotid artery is connected to the spine... there is a chance of the whole damage affecting your cortex. All in all, the Brachial stun was what basically gave him this weird amnesia."

"..."

Unlike his past actions, Sagasuga dug up a portion of curry and started to eat after I told him what truly happened.

He must be reflecting on whether or not what I told him was true or not.

Likewise, I also dug up yet another portion. My curry was endless, but that was only because I had a huge plate on my part.

"Okay, I understand that. I don't know anything about the Brachial stun, so I'll take your word for it. But, how is that any related to Rayazaki's sulking? I can't understand."

Naturally, what I just had said, didn't actually explain as to why Rayazaki was sulking. However, it would serve as an essential piece of understanding when I would explain Sagasuga Rayazaki's reason for sulking.

"Now that I've explained that, I'll explain the rest. Basically, I caught him blooming with Hinagiku. I couldn't forgive his bullish behavior and I broke his phone. And now, he's sulking like a little baby because he can't contact the girl he likes."

I don't particularly favor Rayazaki in a good light, but what I just did to him is something only a true bro would do.

And we're not even bros, therefore, I just did God's work for him.

"What the fuck... Dude, you're literal human trash..."

"Aren't we all?"

But in all seriousness, I understood just how much trash I was for doing that. Regardless, I didn't regret it.

"No, no. You have some serious issues, man. I understand that we all have issues, otherwise, we would not be here but you're on some next level shit... Also, Hinagiku and Rayazaki? When did that happen?"

"I don't know about that actually. From my understanding, Rayazaki unknowingly had this crush on her and now that his temper is locked away, he has decided to demonstrate his feelings to her. Plus, she didn't seem to mind him, at all."

"Isn't that weird...? I mean, Hinagiku was always furious about his behavior for the most part."

"Yes, but now that his usual impulsive and rash behavior is nowhere to be seen, it's as if Rayazaki had turned a completely new leaf."

"And despite knowing that you broke his phone in half!?"

"It couldn't be helped. It was hard to watch them have that sweet talk. I was cringing way too hard."

No lie here, I almost pissed myself.

"Even so, that's fucked up! You can't just interrupt someone's blooming phase out of spite!"

"Of course I can. After all, all I did was to make sure Rayazaki didn't follow the path of slavery."

"What!? Path of slavery!? The fuck are you on about, Daniel!"

It seems that Sagasuga has been blinded by Tateyana's charms and thus, his vision cannot see even the most obvious of all things.

"Rayazaki himself isn't aware, but if you think about it, just a little, you can arrive at little conclusions. Rayazaki's crush aside, why would Hinagiku accept him out of the blue?"

"Because she's a teenager and teenagers fall in love extremely fast!? It's normal as hell!"

"No... Sagasuga... You're so wrong about that..."

Christ, how can we become so blind? I understand that there's less clarity every day, but that shouldn't be an excuse.

"Hinagiku most likely harbors a deep hatred for Rayazaki. She's a nice girl. And nice girls only act out of reason. Furthermore, it makes no sense to accept Rayazaki as a potential love interest. Yo, I'm not saying that it actually happened, but under my assumption, Rayazaki was about to commit a deep mistake."

"Daniel, I swear you're not making any damn sense. They even sit together in class... They must have developed this romantic affection in this little time..."

Sagasuga, you're dumb as shit and you don't even know it.

Rejoice, I'm kind enough to enlighten you on to why you're a concrete dumbfuck who is blinded by a woman's charm at the speed of light.

"I am making sense. You are just not seeing it from my perspective. Rayazaki himself is an argumentative person, and Hinagiku has not shown any signs of liking him in that regard. What sense does it make to develop this sudden crush in a few hours? Can she truly forget all those days that Rayazaki endlessly mocked her from left to right?"

"Wel... Sure, that doesn't add up. But it's possible to develop a crush on someone in just a couple of hours. And besides, Rayazaki was pretty kind to her."

"No, Sagasuga. It's so unlikely for that to happen after the plethora of arguments they've gotten themselves into. There's no way in hell that Hinagiku actually developed a crush on Rayazaki. It's beyond my understanding as to why Rayazaki suddenly developed a crush on Hinagiku though."

"Didn't you say that Rayazaki secretly might've had feelings for her all along?"

"That's true. He is a simpleton. But that's my whole point. Rayazaki's a simpleton without any possible good features about himself. Therefore, for what reason would Hinagiku show feelings of acceptance?"

"I don't get where you are going with this, Daniel. Are you jealous or something?"

Sagasuga's dumber than I originally thought. That's disappointing and worrying, with all things considered.

"Where am I going with this? Ah yes. Let's remind ourselves, for a second. For what reason did we endure slavery for almost a month straight up?"

"For what reason? Well, that's because we lost to the girls---"

He stopped halfway.

Good.

Sagasuga finally, after spouting such nonsensical bullshit had caught up.

"But, there's no way that they would just..."

"I also had the same premonition. Yo, mind if I join in?"

With a plate full of curry, Hyunda was standing up in front of us.

I simply nodded and allowed him to take a seat right next to me.

But, something was wrong here...

"Hyunda, how did you know about this?"

"Let's just say that I have my way of knowing these things by myself."

I wasn't going to bother to squeeze the truth out of him. Because, all that mattered was, Hyunda somehow knew the situation at hand.

"So... do you actually think that they are planning on using Rayazaki against us?"

"That's supposedly the first thing to assume, right? I think that Hinagiku is accepting Rayazaki's approach because she wants Rayazaki to be under her control. I also believe that either Akimiyashika or Ikkiri are behind this."

"Wait a second, Hyunda. How can you know that for sure? Aren't you two being way too cautious about this?"

"Certainly, there's no actual way of knowing it. But, the truth stands, Rayazaki and Hinagiku had something going on this afternoon. From Daniel's past words, it wouldn't make any sense for Hinagiku to accept Rayazaki's sudden romantic approach, right? Therefore, what exactly can be assumed from this?"

"I assumed that Hinagiku was using this chance to use Rayazaki and somehow create conflict or just open up some sort of chaotic event against us again. The thought of something like the previous events happening to us just because Rayazaki was under Hinagiku's influence is far too dreadful."

Nevertheless, this was all speculations.

It could very well be that Hinagiku is just a teenager searching for love and that Rayazaki's change grabbed her heart straight up. It's very possible. However, if we were to consider what the likelihood of that to happen is, then it doesn't take a fool to realize that there are certain possibilities that should be given immediate priority.

"...I see... So you two are saying that what just happened to Rayazaki wasn't a romantic development but a set-up? But still, this is way too soon. How can they form a strategy like that without any sort of communication?"

"That's a naive way of looking at things, Sagasuga. You're forgetting that they did communicate."

As I thought...

"What? When?"

"During lunchtime, when else? Rayazaki's memory loss was only witnessed once he came back to the classroom during the morning. You cannot eliminate the fact that Hinagiku was already aware of this."

Hyunda was truly right. It wouldn't be a blunder to assume that Hinagiku passed on this information to Akimiyashika or Ikkiri.

"Then, Rayazaki's being used and he doesn't even know it?"

"No, he's not being used, right now. Since I broke his phone, he has absolutely no way of blooming. In other words, to happily communicate to Hinagiku which would lead in Rayazaki being used."

Sagasuga and Hyunda then looked at me as if they were looking at trash.

Oi.

What I did was for the greater good of Rayazaki! This is actually such a noble deed yet you plebs are looking at me like that!

Why!?

"Daniel's questionable set of evil methods aside, he did a necessary thing, which was, to stop him from communicating with Hinagiku. Also, out of curiosity, since I was only watching it from a distant position, who declared who would send the first text?"

Regarding Hyunda's mysterious location in this, he had asked a question that I had not considered given importance whatsoever. Therefore, I answered it in a heartbeat.

"It was Hinagiku. She said that she would text Rayazaki in case if she needed to."

"Basically, she enticed it. Sagasuga, can you turn blind on this possibility so soon?"

Although Hyunda had a deeper understanding, he was following a similar questioning pattern. Essentially, it starts with a basic construction of understanding which then allows the one who is asking the questions to move forward and thus asking the necessary complex questions.

"...Is this about how we were set-up? Are you saying that it might happen again if we are not careful enough?"

"Do you even have to question it at this point? Sagasuga, the traitor's on the loose. I'm sure that you're aware of this, but aside from me, Kawahara and Susaga, the traitor's definitely among the rest. Knowing that we are essentially being crossed out, can we afford to allow yet another potential traitor to arise from the shadows?"

Oh wow, so that's what Hyunda had in mind...

He didn't want to let a similar event happen again, but this time around he was searching for more clues that would link to the traitor. Also, Hyunda had noted before January's special exam that the dorm invasion plan was meant to fail.

Yet he never said that he could not have simply won.

In other words, Hyunda was without a doubt hiding something.

"I guess you do have a point. However, what are you going to do about it?"

"Me? Absolutely nothing. Why you ask?"

"...I thought that you were bringing this up because you were forming a counter-strategy against the girls. Was that not why you came here in the first place?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not the type of person who would do some sort of pathetic scheme in order to beat them. There's nothing really to worry about despite how dangerous the situation looks on the surface. As long as Rayazaki stays in a position where he doesn't become Hinagiku's puppet then we are fine."

Hold on a second. Hyunda's words are really contradicting right now. For what purpose exactly would he make us be aware of how dangerous the situation is on the surface when he's not going to do anything about it?

"But if Rayazaki doesn't stay in a position where he is under some sort of vigilance then how are we supposed to counter the girls? We can't afford to wait around, you know."

It's as if we were babysitting a baby to make sure he doesn't fuck something up. The baby in this case being, Rayazaki.

"Then, why wait around? Let's check the situation for ourselves."

"Hm? Sorry, I don't get it. What did you mean by checking the situation by ourselves?"

"I'm saying we go to Rayazaki's room right now and check the situation."

Well, I was out of curry.

Usually, I would deny events like this, but Rayazaki's attitude towards this was pissing me off nonetheless.

He was too much of a beta to fight back which triggered the living fuck out of me.

I wonder how he is taking the fact that his phone was broken?

Not denying my interest, I said to Hyunda:

"Alright, I'm with you. Sagasuga, come."

"...Aye."

After placing our empty plates in the kitchen, we made our way towards Rayazaki's room which was on the second floor. The stairway was extremely old, so every time we took a step forward, you could hear this cryptic sound from the stairs.

"Which one of this rooms is Rayazaki's room?"

Hyunda was utterly clueless because his room is on the third floor and since he's always late for class, he never really gets to witness Rayazaki, who is always oddly early, leave his room.

"The middle one, I think."

"It is the middle one. My room is right next to his's."

Precisely speaking, it was on the left side, but that was about it.

As we walked normally to Rayazaki's room door, we could hear a fainting voice coming out from the inside.

"Dude, don't give up! I'll let you borrow my phone! You still remember her number, right?!"

"Y-Yeah! For sure, how could I forget!? But, really?! You'll borrow me your phone?!"

"Of course, my dude! Aniki's so rude sometimes! I have no idea what went through his mind to break your phone like that!"

"Kuzan!! I never knew that you were so reliable! I see you on a whole new light now!"

Hm?

Kuzan?

"Also, Aniki's just mad that you found your lifetime romance while he hasn't yet."

Although we were eavesdropping from the lock of Rayazaki's door, those were some words that I could not ignore.

"H-Hey, what are you doing!?"

Sorry, Sagasuga.

You wouldn't understand.

"Wh--- Who's there?!"

"Kuzan, hand over that cursed phone, right now."

I had officially, along with Hyunda and Sagasuga, successfully stormed inside Rayazaki's room.

"A-Aniki!? What are you doing here?!"

"That's not important, Kuzan. Don't make me break your damn phone, too."

Kuzan wasn't leaving me much of a choice right now.

However, someone else decided to intervene.

"S-Screw you!! What the hell did you do that for!? That was rude and uncalled for!"

Rayazaki's beta vocabulary is making me want to commit toaster mash-up.

First of all, 'S-Screw you!!'? Yo, to think that you kissed your mother with that mouth. No fucking shame whatsoever. Regardless, weak as fuck.

Secondly, 'rude and uncalled for!'?

Is this your way of showing off your presence?

Lastly, I really am starting to miss Rayazaki back. Or maybe I'm just detesting this new behavior of his.

"He's right, Aniki! You shouldn't interfere with someone else's love life just because you don't have one."

I couldn't let that one slide.

"Awawauwauh!!! My ear! You're going to rip it off!"

"Let go off Kuzan right at this instant, you vile creature! You're evil!"

I was in pure confusion as we speak. I had no idea what was worse, the fact that none of them bothered to fight back despite the fact that I was physically applying force onto Kuzan's left ear by pushing the bay of the ear or the fact that Rayazaki is still throwing such trashy insults.

Also, just how does a memory loss alter one's behavior this much? I'm probably done with Brachial stuns, honestly.

"Kuzan, this is for your own good. You'll thank me later."

Forcefully taking the phone that was in Kuzan's right hand, I decided to crush the phone in half as I did with Rayazaki's, but---

"Wait, Daniel."

To my surprise, the one who had put his right hand on my left shoulder was Hyunda.

"What now?"

"Calm down, will you? You've been acting strange ever since we came here. We came here with a purpose, remember?"

Honestly, the purpose was beyond my caring. Kuzan's words along with Rayazaki's cancerous mixture of beta vocabulary are giving me permanent aids right now.

"Ah, don't worry, Kuzan. I won't let your phone be broken."

What the fuck?

Why are they both against me?

First Hyunda and then Sagasuga.

"I hate you, Daniel! Why did you break my phone earlier?!"

"Because you're being tricked by her, you damn fucking idiot."

Well, you can't say that I didn't say it.

"What!? Tricked!? You're out of your mind! I love Hinagiku with all my heart! She doesn't leave my mind! Can't you see that my time as finally come!?"

Instead of getting pissed off, I had the most brilliant idea ever.

Quickly taking my hand off Kuzan's ear and his phone, I pulled out my phone.

After that, I committed a certain action and put back my phone.

"Sorry, Rayazaki, but you really didn't make it clear for me. Just what exactly are your own feelings for Hinagiku, exactly?"

"Huh!? Do I have to repeat it? I said I love her! She's been on my mind all day long! What? Are you jealous or something?! Was that why you broke my phone!? Were you afraid of the possibility of her loving me back!? You don't have to worry! I will make sure to utilize everything in my arsenal to portray my feelings back to her!"

"W-Wow... Rayazaki, you really are..."

Even Sagasuga couldn't hide his surprise.

However, I had to make sure that this bastard, who fucking broke my left calf bone, would suffer in the worst possible way.

"That's cute and all, but is that it? So? What of it? Are feelings all you are capable of showing? No actions? All talk but no delivery, huh?"

"W-What!? What the hell are you on about! I'll prove it to you! God, I'm so mad at you! It doesn't matter whether or not you broke my phone! That's it! Thanks for the help Kuzan, but I have decided! I will confess to her tomorrow, without fail! I'll prove you wrong, you bastard!"

In the future, don't blame me for this, Rayazaki.

After all, you were the one who brought this on yourself.