Ayanokouji What If: Popularity Time

V9 Chapter 4: Allegations

Kiyotaka Pov

The bell had finally rung on Thursday afternoon, signalling the end of the day at last. It had been a couple of days since the rumors had started, and they had only managed to spread further than before.

You could not get through a conversation in some social circles without talking about the rumors as well.

While no other rumors besides the four already introduced were created, many people tried to fill in the blanks about what could have happened in Ichinose's past.

This lead to many small rumors that had little merit or any proof circulating the social circles of this school.

I have yet to speak with Ichinose or her classmates, so I don't know how she's addressing these rumors besides sometimes going off on her own, or so I've heard.

"Yo, Taka," waved Ken from his seat. Beside him was Onodera who was tapping away on her phone.

"Hey Ken, Onodera. You guys ready to go the pool?"

Ken nodded and pointed at Onodera, "Both of us put our stuff in the locker rooms already."

"I see," I said with a sigh before confessing, "I left my bag back at my dorm so I'll have to go grab that."

"I can come with you," offered Onodera, and Ken nodded to agree with her.

I shook my head, "No, it's ok, you two can just go in ahead of me."

"You're sure?" asked Ken, already standing up from his seat.

"I'm sure."

"Ok then," said Onodera, "Sudo-Kun and I will just warm up in the pool then, right? It won't take too long for you to just go there and back so it'll be fine."

"Yeah, exactly. I'll see you guys in a bit," I said with a wave over my shoulder while walking out into the hallway.

I walked quickly down the hallway for a minute until I stopped, looking at two people talking ahead of me.

Himeno stood with her arms crossed in front of an older looking boy I recognized from the training camp as Asaki, a short senpai from Class 2-A.

"So you gonna tell me or what?" asked Himeno angrily.

Asaki shrugged, "What's in it for me?"

Himeno sighed angrily and picked up her phone from her pocket, "5,000 private points."

"30,000."

"25,000."

"30,000."

"25,000."

"30,000," repeated Asaki with a smirk.

Himeno thought it over and rolled her eyes, "Fine, 30,000."

"Pleasure doing business with you!" cheered Asaki. "Now as for who told me...some kid named uhm...Hashimoto?"

"So you didn't even know for sure but you-ugh, whatever," hissed Himeno, muttering something under her breath. She quickly stormed off down the hall towards the school exit.

I ran to catch up to her, "Hey Himeno! Wait up!"

"Eh?" she turned around and her sour expression somehow managed to turn even sourer. "What do you want?"

"Just came to check in," I said, "You seemed to be invested in interrogating that guy ."

"You said I needed proof right?" she asked. "I'm getting some."

"Interrogating random people isn't helping you."

"Who else should I interrogate, Hashimoto?"

"Well he might not give you the best answers," I quipped.