Their Two Sides (COTE Fanfic)

Chapter 4 - A "Normal" Lunch

I've been sitting on my seat, absent-mindedly staring out of the classroom window, ignoring the subject teacher's lessons. I already knew this stuff for years there's no need to relearn them. I just wanted the lunch bell to ring already so that I can enact my plan already.

Thanks to the elder Horikita, I now have a firm understanding of the system at this school. I asked him for three favours in exchange for deleting the video of Horikita's suffering, much to Kushida's dismay.

I had used one of the favours to ask a few questions regarding the class point system and and other way to increase class points other than through written exams.

I found out that the teachers left out one crucial piece of information, the existence of special exams. While the Elder Horikita didn't describe them fully, he did say that they could test any number of a student's skills be it physically or mentally. These special exams are an unknown variable to my survival here at this school.

Additionally, since Chabashira-sensei did not mention this (even though she's desperate to reach Class A), that would mean that this information is classified and will most likely not be mentioned until it is deemed necessary.

I'm starting to feel like this school wasn't the right pick to have a peaceful life at. Well, I didn't have any other choice at the time. This is the best school to hide out in.

Once the lunch bell rang and we were dismissed from class, I immediately stood up from my seat and made a beeline to where Kushida was sitting, much to Horikita's surprise and curiosity.

As I was approaching, Kushida's friends looked to my curiously, then proceeded to whisper amongst themselves. Unfortunately Kushida seems to have been caught in the crossfire. May she survive this onslaught.

"Sorry everyone, but I'd like to have lunch with Ayanokouji-kun. Is that okay?" Kushida clasped her hands together while slightly bowing her head.

Her friends all glanced at each other and shared a simultaneous nod, granting their approval.

"Of course it is, Kushida-chan. Have fun eating with a boy instead of your friends." Ichihashi said with fake sadness.

It has begun.

"Wait that's not-!" Kushida tried to explain, but the girls shut her up and started relentlessly teasing her.

Seeing that I would be next in line, I decided to wait for her just outside the classroom door. I glanced at her troubled face as her eyes met mine and her face slightly frowned, I knew what she was trying to say.

'Traitor!'

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After a few minutes, Kushida finally decided to join me. Her cheeks were flushed pink from embarrassment and I could already feel her angry glare towards me.

"Thanks for nothing." She muttered. I half-expected her to start walking off, but she decided to stay here.

"No problem." I replied. Her frown deepened as I did.

"Let's just start heading to the cafeteria." She paused. "We are heading there right?"

"Yes we are." I say this as we start heading towards our destination.

"Y'know... We could have just used one of senpai's favours in order to get what we're trying to get right?" Kushida abruptly stopped walking, making me stop too.

"While that may be true, I don't want to waste one of his favours for something that I could easily do myself, given the time. Besides this event can be used to test one of my existing theories that I didn't ask about yesterday." I had only asked to find out any other way in order to gain class points, I was quite confident that I'd figure out the rest on my own. If not, there are other ways.