CHANGED - Classroom of the Elite

27

Suzune closed her notebook with a slap.

"You look a little tired." She peered over to Ayanokoji, who was leaning on his own desk. Maybe her makeup needs updating if he's able to see through her layer upon layer of concealer. Or maybe it's just him.

It's probably just him.

"Well aren't you bright."

"Have you not been sleeping well?" He asked, resting a palm on his hand.

"Eh, you could say that." Suzune let her arms fall over the back of her chair. The two of them observed the classroom for a bit, watching the normal interactions between groups. "Got a phone call last night."

"Hm? Who was it from?"

"'Dunno." She does know. She pulled out her contact list and showed him her latest phone call. "Do you recognize this number?"

Ayanokoji was quiet for a moment. "Yes, I do." He pulled out his own phone and displayed his own call log. "They called me last night as well."

"That's probably a good indicator that they're connected back to-" She waved her hands in the air in random circular motions. "-you know what."

"Indeed."

Suzune began packing up her things, sliding her pencil case into her bag and zipping it up. She lifted her bag strap over her shoulder and was about to leave the room when Ayanokoji suddenly grabbed her wrist.

When she tried to throw him off, he stayed put. She took a glance around the classroom. They were the only ones left. "If you want to ask me something, you don't have to hold me hostage, you know?"

"Have you been talking to Ichinose recently?"

"And?" She finally managed to yank her arm out of his reach when he decided cutting off her circulation would do neither of them a favour. "I'm allowed to talk to whoever I please."

"We've had good communication levels so far throughout the year." Ayanokoji's face was blank like always. His words didn't match it. "It would be the best for the both of us to see that through."

"... are you threatening me?"

He didn't reply.

Suzune gained a deadpan look on her face. "Just because I interfered with your plan to manipulate Ichinose, that doesn't mean I'm going against you."

Ayanokoji tilted his head. "I didn't say that."

"It was implied, and you know it." Suzune turned her full body towards him. "If you're truly worried about how we're gonna work as allies in the future, lend me a hand with getting Nagumo off Ichinose's back, and we'll call it equal."

"... fine."

---

Monday morning:

Locking the door behind her, Suzune walked over to the elevator. The last week had been a little... rough, on her sleep schedule. Her and Matsushita continued to have their little night talks, she listened to Ichinose dump her emotions out to her on the phone, her stalkers following her around.

She can feel her patience slowly dwindle away into thin air. And it's annoying because this is probably exactly what Ayanokoji wants. Suzune's not convinced that the guy has been completely passive with her, even if they're working together technically.

If the situation with Kei was anything to go by.

So, him and her are in a sort of stuck in a fucked up ballroom dance, except the ballroom is a black empty void and the fancy chandelier is choked of red string. Whoever has the better moves is victorious, whatever the prize may be.