COTE: The Best Version of Me

Chapter 13 - Unreachable

Class A: Sakayanagi/Katsuragi

Class B: Ayanokoji

Class C: Ichinose

Class D: Ryuen

Ayanokoji POV

["Thank you, Kushida, that was quite helpful."]

["You're welcome, Ayanokoji-kun... but I'll call you back for this favor, okay? Bye bye!"]

I stared at my phone for a few seconds after hanging up with Kushida, letting the silence of the room fill the space around me. Before heading to Class A, I made a call to Kushida about the names Ryuen and Sakayanagi. Kushida's network reach was quite surprising, so she was certainly quite helpful in that regard. I thanked her for the information in my usual calm manner, and as always, she was extremely helpful. 

Kushida has her own motivations, that much is obvious, but she's skilled at hiding any hint of intentions behind her sweet voice and social butterfly charisma. She provided me with exactly what I needed, as usual.

She mentioned a few important points about Ryuen and Sakayanagi, and now, alone, I could finally process the information clearly. I sighed lightly, watching the soft light that filtered through the window into the long hallways, creating shadows on the wooden floor.

Ryuen Kakeru and Sakayanagi Arisu... 

From what I've gathered and what I can gather from the call, Ryuen is a tyrant always on the lookout, waiting for the right moment to strike. Aggressive in his approach, but perceptive enough to know when to hold back. He doesn't mind getting his hands dirty, as long as the outcome benefits him. He's the current leader of Class D and is quite malicious in his approaches. He's also someone who seems to understand human nature in a way that most don't. His every action, his every word, is a calculated move to bring down his opponents, whether physically or mentally.

And then there's Sakayanagi Arisu... the same surname as Chairman Sakayanagi. I can gather that she has a razor-sharp mind, different from Ryuen in every way except her ability to manipulate. She plays a different game, more subtle, more elaborate. Sakayanagi doesn't act on impulse. I can assume that every move she makes is thought out months in advance, and she knows exactly which pieces to move on the board. She has the respect of many in Class A not for her brute strength, but for her ruthless intelligence, though there seem to be some who disagree with her approaches.

I tilted my head back, closing my eyes for a moment, allowing my mind to wander as I processed these two contrasting figures and about Sakayanagi's invitation.

Not surprising, really. It was to be expected that leaders of such caliber would clash, each trying to impose his superiority on the other. What caught my attention, however, was the way in which both of them, directly or indirectly, were engaging with me.

"That's really interesting. What are you thinking, Sakayanagi?" I muttered to myself, deep in thought. I stuffed my hands into my pockets as I walked through the main hallway, already nearing Class A's door.

As I opened the door to the room, I was immediately struck by a wave of palpable tension. The atmosphere was thick, charged with the kind of electricity that only occurs when great forces clash. Sakayanagi, Ryuen, and Ichinose were present, and it was clear that the discussion between them had brought the room to the brink of conflict. I could feel the air in which every word spoken carried the weight of a carefully calculated strategy.