(COTE X OC)The cheater is the red child

Chapter 5-Negociation

Hishida's POV

The meal was finished after Ayanokoji and Horikita helped me with the dishwasher. It was undeniable that the meal was good, and the one who enjoyed it the most was Tokito, especially with the dessert. I couldn't help but feel happy about the evening, which was, to say the least, pleasant.

As I had predicted from the start, Horikita didn't talk much. She genuinely wanted to make this meal a thank-you gift, not a way to form friendships with others. I felt I had to do something for her, because continuing to confuse independence with loneliness would only bring misfortune, and for many reasons.

With the school's rules in mind, I deduced that a certain behavior and effort were needed to earn those precious points. If I follow the logic of what the school is trying to teach us, I could assume that a rivalry between classes existed. From what I observed in the store, the cafeteria, and the students' behavior, you could notice a difference in attitude and conduct.

I heard that you could get a free meal in the cafeteria, and from what I saw, a good number of students took advantage of this free dish.

I have some theories about this, but if they turn out to be true, what Horikita might face could be too overwhelming to overcome. Depending on her personality and how she views the situation, it could be the factor that leads to her downfall.

Hishida - Switching to Ayanokoji

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka"...

A guy with an average appearance, rather shy and unsociable to the point of failing his first introduction. But he still possesses great determination to make friends and lead an ordinary life. He has a blasé face... no, I would say it's actually empty. In any situation, he keeps the same expression, making you wonder if he ever gets surprised or angry. From what I've seen, he dresses properly, not like a country bumpkin like Yamauchi or Ike. With the top button of his shirt undone, it adds to his relaxed look.

Hishida - An action he wants to take, or else he would seem too serious? He seems like someone who thinks too much about how to make friends. If that's the case, I imagine he tries to show a good image by not looking too serious.

I'm sure I'm right about this, but I'm not so sure about the undone shirt button. Anyway, let's not dwell on that. What really intrigues me about this person are his expressions. Every teenager I've met is more or less emotional and shows at least some degree of emotion.

But with Ayanokoji, it's a whole different story. I refuse to believe that he's never smiled, unless he had gone through some sort of trauma. Thinking back, I had asked him a question. It was about why he came to this school. I knew Horikita's reason, which was more than obvious, but for Ayanokoji... it was rather strange.

He wants to live a peaceful life, without too many problems. But what kind of peaceful life is he talking about? A guy who's practically unsociable but still wants friends is already strange in itself, because usually, unsociable people avoid this kind of approach, just like Ayanokoji does. And then, I find it hard to believe that in order to live a normal, peaceful life, one would need to go to a school like this.

What if he's never lived a peaceful life? Nothing I've observed about him fits the profile of a normal high school student. An individual's personality is usually shaped by their life experiences, their parents' upbringing, their peer interactions, and the social norms they adopt. So, it wouldn't be impossible that what he's been through explains his almost expressionless behavior.

At least in theory, I think he must have been locked away or something similar, something that a person wouldn't normally experience. It would be something that deprived him of freedom, something that cut him off from the rest of the world, explaining his unsociability. I suspect it has something to do with his parents. He probably spent a long time isolated, to the point where he became curious or even wanted to know what a normal life is like. This school, which prevents any outside contact, even with close ones, seems like an ideal solution for him to escape and discover what had been taken from him. Well, I guess that makes sense.