April 1, 2015

Horikita led Ayanokōji through the school's sprawling campus, the lush greenery and modern architecture serving as a stark contrast to the mysteries that seemed to shroud the institution. They walked in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken questions hanging in the air.

Eventually, they arrived at a relatively secluded area near a serene pond, surrounded by benches and trees. It was a peaceful spot, away from the hustle and bustle of the school's main thoroughfares.

Horikita turned to Ayanokōji, her expression serious. "I brought you here to discuss something important," she began, her words measured. "You've probably realized by now that this school is not like any other. It has its own set of rules, and those rules can be rather... unorthodox."

Ayanokōji nodded, acutely aware of the unusual nature of Advanced Nurturing High School.

Horikita continued, her gaze unwavering. "I've been observing you, Ayanokōji-kun, and I believe you're not like most of the students here. You deliberately scored poorly on your entrance exams, didn't you?"

Ayanokōji hesitated for a moment, then nodded in confirmation. "Yes, that's correct."

"I thought as much," she replied, her tone serious. "This school values talent and achievement above all else. But I think there's more to you than meets the eye, and I want to propose something."

Ayanokōji's curiosity was piqued. "What do you have in mind?"

Horikita looked at him directly, her eyes searching. "I want to form an alliance, a partnership of sorts. We can help each other navigate the complexities of this school, uncover its secrets, and ensure our survival."

Ayanokōji considered her offer carefully. It was clear that Horikita was no ordinary student, and she had her own reasons for seeking an alliance. The mysteries of the school ran deep, and he knew that he couldn't unravel them alone.

After a moment of contemplation, he extended his hand. "All right, Horikita. I can promise that much at the very least."

Horikita shook his hand firmly, and in that moment, a new chapter began in their journey at Advanced Nurturing High School. Together, they would face the challenges, secrets, and enigmas that lay ahead, determined to find their place in this extraordinary institution.

As Ayanokōji shook hands with Horikita and agreed to their alliance, a nagging question gnawed at the back of his mind...

How did she know about his intentionally low entrance exam score? It was information that should have been confidential and only accessible to school authorities.

Ayanokōji couldn't simply ignore this puzzling revelation. He decided to address the issue, his tone thoughtful but cautious.

"Horikita, may I ask how you knew about my entrance exam score? That information is typically kept confidential, and only the school staff should have access to it."

Horikita's gaze remained steady, and she didn't seem surprised by his question. Instead, she sighed as if preparing to reveal a well-kept secret.

"Because, Ayanokōji-kun," she began, "I have my own ways of gathering information in this school. I've learned to be resourceful and observant, and your peculiar choice of scores did not escape my notice. You're not the only one who can keep secrets here."

Ayanokōji contemplated her response. It was clear that Horikita had her own set of skills and sources of information, and she seemed to be a step ahead of him. He had underestimated her sharpness.

Of course, he still had to ask in what particular way she found out.

Ayanokōji, not one to let questions linger, pressed on, "I understand that you have your methods, but I'm curious about the specifics. How did you find out about my exam scores? It's not a detail that's readily available or openly discussed."

Horikita hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons of revealing her sources. Finally, she relented, "I happen to know someone with the power to look into those matters. It's Chabashira-sensei herself."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Ayanokōji nodded, somewhat satisfied with her explanation. It made sense that someone who had been in a position of authority longer would have more knowledge and connections.

He decided to trust Horikita for now, realizing that her resourcefulness could be an asset in their quest to unravel the school's mysteries.

"Fair enough," he said, accepting her answer. "Let's put our skills and information to good use in this alliance."

With that settled, Ayanokōji and Horikita shared their ideas with each other and came up with a plan.

It would start with a certain pretty boy with greenish-blonde hair.

1

The following day, before homeroom period would begin, Ayanokōji was at his desk looking at the ever-blue overcast through the window.

That was until a short, voluptuous beige-haired girl came to him and greeted him. "You're Ayanokōji-kun, right?" She gave a simple sweet smile, reassuring the boy.

"Yeah," He nodded.

"Can I get your number? I missed the chance to catch you before."

This was consistent with her introduction. Kushida was a personality meant for socialization, a figure aiming to make over a hundred friends.

For anyone with more than a few braincells working, this was a task too daunting for practicality, but that's the thing — Kushida herself is abnormal.

Even when it's clearly impossible, she still wants to try her hand at it.

That is who Kushida Kikyō is.

"Sure. Hand me your phone and I'll be on it. Take mine and add yours too."

As they exchanged contact information, Kushida posed a surprising question. "Is Horikita-san your girlfriend?"

If he could laugh, he definitely would.

"Nah, she's more like... What can I call her?"

Ayanokōji thought for a moment, trying to find the right words to describe his complex relationship with Horikita. Finally, he settled on an answer.

"She's more like a partner in a mysterious adventure," he replied with a faint smile.

Kushida blinked, a bit puzzled by his response. "A partner in a mysterious adventure? That sounds interesting. You two seem pretty close already. I'm a bit jealous, you know."

Ayanokōji chuckled softly. "It's not what it seems. We're just getting to know each other. But speaking of friendships, you seem to be quite the social butterfly. Do you have a lot of friends already?"

Kushida beamed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Oh, yes! I love making friends. The more, the merrier. If you ever need help with that, just let me know. I'm like a friendship matchmaker!"

Ayanokōji couldn't help but find Kushida's outgoing personality and eagerness to connect with others both refreshing and slightly overwhelming.

It was clear that their classmates came from various backgrounds and had unique goals in mind.

"In that case, are you my friend, Kushida?" He was curious if a single conversation was enough to justify this change in relationship status.

Kushida smiled once again, "Correct! If you want to be my friend, then of course we are, Ayanokōji-kun."

Ayanokōji couldn't help but be intrigued by Kushida's genuine warmth and enthusiasm.

The idea of making friends had always been foreign to him, but there was something about Kushida's approach that made it seem more accessible. He decided to take a step into this unfamiliar territory.

"Alright, Kushida, then you can consider me your friend too," he said with a small smile. It felt strange to utter those words, but he was willing to give this new experience a chance.

Kushida's eyes lit up with excitement. "Great! I'm so happy to have a new friend. Let's make the most of our time at this school and create wonderful memories together!"

2

"One more thing, Kushida — Give me Hirata's number," Ayanokōji demanded, a snap of the finger accompanying his words.

Hirata Yōsuke was the boy who confidently let the majority of the class to participate in introductions on the first day. Needless to say, he was well received among the fairer sex due to his amicable nature.

Recovering from her stupefaction, Kushida obliged. "Err, sure... I'm very happy to help. Hirata-kun, is it? What do you want with him? Is this a case of forbidden affection~?" she teased with a cheeky smirk. Kushida stuck her tongue out playfully.

The plan Ayanokōji and Horikita devised wasn't really complicated — it just so happened that they were dealing with simpletons.

Obviously, someone with charisma was necessary to convey their doubts regarding this school's S-System. Neither of the two had enough practice to pull off a convincing speech.

This was where Hirata and Kushida entered the picture. Having a socialite do the work would be infinitely more effective.

With that said, Kushida had just committed the act of yaoi teasing.

Quick, Ayanokōji! Get back at her-!

"Are you sure you want to be saying that? I remember you had quite the lengthy conversation with Kōenji on the bus," he intentionally emphasized the word 'quite'.

"With all the pestering you did, I'd say you're a gold digger, Kushida. Tsk. Tsk Tsk. Targeting a single man to get a lick of his assets?"

This was a textbook example of mental gymnastics — interpreting simple actions in a way far removed from reality.

Kushida was momentarily flustered by Ayanokōji's response, not expecting him to turn the tables on her so smoothly. She blinked a few times before giggling. "Well, you caught me there! But don't get the wrong idea, Ayanokōji-kun. I was just trying to make friends, you know? No ulterior motives!"

Ayanokōji couldn't help but sigh at Kushida's playful response. She was indeed a master of social dynamics, and he was beginning to understand why she had so many friends. In the midst of this exchange, she shared Hirata's number with him.

"Thanks for the number and the laugh, Kushida. I appreciate your help," Ayanokōji said.

With the necessary contact information in hand, Ayanokōji was ready to approach Hirata with the proposal to address the class about the mysterious point system. It was a step closer to exposing the secrets of Advanced Nurturing High School, and he was determined to see it through.

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Word count: 1656