A Liar's Truth [UNDER FINAL REVISION]

Ch 52: Reaping rewards

Third-person point of view

The gymnasium hummed with restless conversation.

Rows of students filed through the wide entrance in neat uniforms, only for the orderly lines to dissolve into noisy groups the moment teachers looked away. Shoes squeaked across the polished wooden floor. Somewhere near the stage, a microphone let out a brief burst of feedback before a faculty member hurried to silence it.

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, turning the dust drifting through the air almost golden.

Ginka adjusted the strap of her school bag. The folded cream-colored letter inside shifted ever so slightly. Her hand instinctively rested against it. She still couldn't believe it.

A recommendation to return to Class A.

Not after everything that had happened. Not from Father.

She hadn't even submitted a transfer request... Which only made her more suspicious.

Father never handed someone exactly what they wanted without expecting something in return.

She exhaled quietly, 'Whatever he's planning... I'll figure it out.'

For now—There was still unfinished business.

"Oho~" Terasaka leaned lazily against one of the gymnasium pillars, arms folded as a familiar group entered through the side doors. "You finally decided to show yourselves."

Conversations nearby gradually quieted. Heads turned almost instinctively.

The Five Virtuosos walked across the gym with the effortless confidence that came from spending years at the top of Kunugigaoka. 

Students stepped aside without being asked. 

At the center of them—Gakushuu Asano.

His expression remained as composed as ever, "I assume you have business with me." His tone was perfectly polite. Perfectly distant. "Unfortunately, preparations for the closing ceremony require my attention." He continue walking. 

Terasaka immediately stepped in front of him. "Hey, hold it." He casually placed a hand on Gakushuu's shoulder, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Several nearby students stopped pretending not to watch. The atmosphere shifted.

Isogai stepped forward, "Asano-kun." His voice stayed calm. "We made a bet. The class with more first-place rankings would be allowed one request."

A few of the Virtuosos exchanged visibly irritated looks. 

"You guys were the ones who came up with those rules." Terasaka jabbed a thumb toward himself. "So don't tell me you're backing out now. And before you say anything—" His grin became almost feral. "Throw Home Ec. in there if you want, we'll still have you beat all the same."