COTE: Stealing Back What's Mine

Ninth Step

Leaving my classroom after dealing with everyone was exhausting. The only time I can truly rejuvenate myself is when I'm with Kiyotaka. His presence always seems to melt the stress away. The thought of seeing him, even for a brief moment, made me so giddy.

I hadn't checked the stock market since about thirty minutes before it closed. On a whim, I decided to take a quick look at our class's portfolio as I walked. The total sat at 5,010,300 points—slightly lower than I had anticipated. We seemed to have lost some points. That doesn't make sense, I thought, frowning. Our portfolio shouldn't have dipped this much.

Sensing something was wrong, I immediately opened the details of our portfolio and scanned the recent activity. To my surprise, I noticed several stocks that shouldn't have been bought. They were all part of the companies involved in the recent scandal. Over 800,000 points had been invested into these failing stocks.

Something wasn't right.

I quickened my pace toward Kiyotaka's classroom. Not bothering to slow down as I neared the door; I needed to speak with him immediately. Bursting into the classroom, I ignored the glares sent my way from his classmates. Their disapproval meant nothing to me. My attention was solely on Kiyotaka.

"Kiyotaka, I have something important to tell you."

He nodded silently, and followed me into the hallway. I didn't miss how his classmates seemed to be distancing themselves from him. They've been avoiding him more and more lately, but honestly, that's a good thing. He doesn't need them. His attention should be on me and no one else.

I shook those thoughts away, refocusing on the issue at hand. I thrust my phone at him, showing him the portfolio.

"What's this supposed to mean?"

"Look! There's over 800,000 points invested into stocks that were part of the recent scandal."

His eyes scanned the information, and after a brief moment, he seemed to understand. His ability to assess situations so quickly never ceased to amaze me.

"Someone, or several people, are betraying your class."

"But how?" I asked.

I had always prided myself on maintaining a perfect image within my class. My classmates trusted me, followed me. The idea that someone would betray me—it was incomprehensible.

Sure, other classes had started to become suspicious of me, but I'd kept my own class completely under my control. How could this happen without me noticing?

"Let's go somewhere more private to talk."

"Right," I muttered quietly.

The hallway wasn't a safe place for a conversation like this—there could be too many ears listening in.

I latched onto Kiyotaka's arm as we made our way to his dorm room. It was the one place where I felt truly safe. His room had become our little sanctuary, our love nest. Breathing in his scent as we walked filled me with a familiar sense of comfort.

We reached his room, and after closing the door, we sat side by side on his bed. I felt more at ease, but still worried about the traitor.

"Do you have any idea who could be behind this?"

Kiyotaka might have some insight that I had overlooked.

"There are a few people who could be potential suspects."

I had a few people in mind as well, but the idea of betrayal from my own class—I didn't like it.

"But why would they do this? It doesn't make sense for anyone to betray my class. Even if they figured out that I plan on having you transfer, the alternative would be losing the exam, which would cost us 100 class points."