Classroom of the Elite: Crimson Usurper (V5-V11.5)

(V7) Chapter 6: A Confused and Determined Heart

(Uh... If you saw season 2 episode 11 of the Anime, you probably know what different method Ryuuen uses for Karuizawa. So disclaimer for mental and physical torture... ig?)

I was freezing.

My body was trembling violently as icy water dripped from my hair. Even a tiny drop was enough from my hair was enough be disgusted. 

Ryuuen and his followers had dumped freezing cold water all over me, leaving me soaked to the bone in the cold air of December. My uniform was soaked right through; even my underwear was wet. The ropes cut deeper than I could bear, gnawing at my skin and the cold making my teeth chatter uncontrollably. 

But what struck me even harder than the physical discomfort was the icy grip tightening around my heart.

'Why am I being bullied?' Slowly, my feelings changed to, 'Why am I alive? What did I do wrong?'

I started blaming myself. My heart was frozen, and my body was being devoured. The deep scars etched into my being started to throb again, like they were hot, parallel to the icy cold water.

"Come on. That's enough, Karuizawa. Make things easier on yourself. There's no need to suffer any further," Ryuuen sneered.

That was a dead end, though. If I told him about Kiyotaka, it might reprieve me temporarily, but there was no guarantee that Ryuuen wouldn't try to blackmail me again. 

He might even command me to betray Class D. Like the tragic finales you saw on television, misery was all that awaited people who continued to betray others.

I would hold on to hope until the very end. I'd believe in Kiyotaka's words, and his promise that he'd protect me. That was my final defense against my heart being swallowed up by the darkness.

"I know what you're thinking. If you give up them, you'll lose their protection. All hope will be lost," said Ryuuen.

My teeth loudly chattered from the cold, making my terror audible to all. I struggled desperately to stop, but my mind had already abandoned me. Repulsive memories thrashed around in my brain. The past and present overlapped.

My wrists, belly and other parts felt like they were hugging my body like a bear. Like my skin was getting pierced.

"Do you want to die holding onto hope? Are you okay with going back to the way things were?" Ryuuen's vicious words cut me. "Shinjiro nor X can save you. I can, that is, if you give me X's name."

I was scared.

"If you won't cooperate, though, I have no choice but to destroy you. You're tied up like this, yeah? What if I were to do worse than what Shinjiro did to you back in the boiler room?"

Please save me. The plea escaped in silence, it lodged firmly in my throat.

"I'm going to list everything there is to know about you, everything you pretend to be, and circulate it to the whole school. Even the video where Shinjiro assaulted you. That's right. I'll show Karuizawa how she's willing to be a slut and offer her body when she's cornered."

Why torture me. Just get it done with.

"When that happens, will you be able to keep your position in your class? Will you still be a leader? Will you be known as the tough girl you always dreamed to be?"

I just want to go to sleep. 

"No. You'll just go back to being what you were before."

My vision was barely visible. Yet when Ryuuen lifted my chin, I saw his deep, menacing eyes.