Epilogue: Another Story Begins to Unfold
It was late May, on a Saturday morning just before eleven, when I finally stepped out of my room, ready to meet the person I had arranged to see.
The quiet hum of the dormitory followed me down to the lobby. Just as I exited the premises, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Good morning, Horikita-san.”
There she was—Karuizawa-san, smiling softly. She must have arrived earlier than expected.
“Good morning, sorry for contacting you so suddenly last night.”
I had only sent her a message late yesterday, asking if she could meet me. With how many friends she had, it wouldn’t have been surprising if her schedule was already packed. Yet she had agreed without hesitation.
“It's totally fine, I mean, getting an invitation from you, Horikita-san, felt so fresh and I was really happy about it.”
She smiled gently, adding that she’d been looking forward to it.
“But… why are you in uniform?” she asked curiously, tilting her head.
“I have some Student Council business, so I have to make an appearance at two.”
Entering the school grounds in casual clothes was prohibited, and changing back and forth between outfits would’ve been nothing but a hassle, I explained to her.
Besides, students often came in on weekends for club activities, so wearing a uniform today wouldn’t make me stand out.
“Wow, the student council president has it rough. I could never handle that,”
Shaking her head and muttering “no way, no way”, her gaze wandered toward Keyaki Mall in the distance.
“So,” she said, turning back to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “What’s the plan? I’ve actually been kind of excited to see how Horikita-san would ‘escort’ me today.”
“If you were expecting something fun, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I didn’t invite you today to hang out.”
I offered the words as a light apology, but at that Karuizawa-san suddenly widened her eyes with a gasp, as if struck by a realization.
“Eh, ah... could it be that you want to know something about Ayanokoji-kun?”
“You're sharp. That is one of my objectives.”
“Well, the special exam wrapped up without much trouble, so I figured it might be something like that. But I can’t promise I’ll be of much help, you know?”
“I understand. But if even you don’t know something about him, I’ll be able to give up on it more easily.”
After all, among everyone I know, she is undoubtedly the one who understands Ayanokoji-kun the most.
“Alright then,” she said brightly. “Ask me anything. If it’s within what I know, I’ll answer everything.” She said it confidently at first, but then scratched her head with a flustered laugh. “Ah— sorry, maybe not everything. But most things, yeah. I can talk about those.”
Her cheeks reddened as she corrected herself. It was a reaction that piqued my curiosity, but as long as she shared what she could, it would be more than enough.
“Thank you.”
Her devoted, or perhaps more accurately, proactive attitude, brought me a sense of relief.
“I don’t intend to tell you clumsy lies or keep needless secrets either,” I continued. “I’ll explain everything, why I want to know about Ayanokoji-kun, and what I intend to do. I want you to hear me out.”
“Of course, I may not look it, but I can keep a secret. So bring it on.”
Trusting her words, I brought up the names of Kushida-san and Ibuki-san, and explained that, as the first step towards confronting Ayanokoji-kun, I needed to start by learning more about him.
For that, I also planned to investigate his origins.
All of this, I laid before Karuizawa-san.
“I see, you know, even before I started going out with Kiyotaka— ah, no, with Ayanokoji-kun, I often found myself wondering what kind of middle schooler he might have been. So I understand how you feel. And… sorry in advance, I might still slip and call him by his first name sometimes.”
“Don't worry about that. If it's hard for you to call him by his last name, you can just stick with his first name.”
But Karuizawa-san shook her head firmly. “No. For me… this is about drawing a line. A kind of closure, I guess.”
“I see…”
She gave a small, wry smile. “Even though I dated him, honestly, I don’t think I know much more about him than you do, Horikita-san. I tried asking him about his past a few times, but… I never really got a proper answer.”
“You mean like what prefecture he used to live in, or which middle school he attended?”
“That... Well, I did ask about his food preferences and what kind of clothes he preferred. That much he would answer, but…” Her voice trailed off, her gaze drifting as if she were reaching into hazy recollections.
Karuizawa-san began quietly recounting the little pieces of information she had gathered or heard.
Part 1
We finally arrived at Keyaki Mall, the steady stream of our conversation carrying us as we wandered through its polished hallways. It might be a good time to suggest we sit down for lunch. But before I could voice that thought, something else caught my attention.
“Actually, there’s another reason I asked you to come today,” I said, lowering my voice ever so slightly. “And, we were lucky enough to find her.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering right away, I shifted my gaze toward the figure ahead, silently urging her to follow the direction of my eyes.
“...Amasawa-san?” she muttered as her eyes fell upon the figure I had singled out.
Walking just a few steps ahead of us was a girl with striking red twin-tail hair, her back straight as she moved through the bustle of the mall alone.
“That’s right,” I confirmed quietly. “Amasawa Ichika… she’s connected to Ayanokoji-kun’s past. That’s why I’ve been looking into her.”
“Ahh... I seeeee.” Karuizawa-san, walking beside me, didn’t look surprised. Instead, her expression carried a quiet sort of understanding.
“Did you perhaps already know about their connection?”
She shook her head. “Nope, not at all. But… I’ve seen Ayanokoji-kun talking with Amasawa-san before. Just briefly. And honestly, it didn’t feel like they were just some random senpai and kouhai who happened to meet at this school.”
It didn't seem like there was a difference in the information we had, but hearing her opinion was reassuring.
To feel the same scent, so to speak, is encouraging when you're carrying out such a steady investigation.
“So... are we going to tail her now? Hey, are we tailing her?” she asked, eyes sparkling.
“…You sound far too excited about this,” I replied with a sigh.
“I mean, I don’t dislike doing spy-like stuff. Honestly, who wouldn’t enjoy that kind of thing?”
Well, if I thought of it as just an extension of a play, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…
But the person we were dealing with wasn’t just anyone ordinary, she was someone tied to Ayanokoji-kun’s past, and from what I’d seen, a person of no small ability.
One slip, and the thread connecting us to her might snap entirely. That thought alone made it hard to treat this as a game.
“At the very least, I should tell you what I’ve noticed about her recently,” I said, lowering my voice.
For several afternoons, I had quietly observed Amasawa-san after school.
She always acted alone. I haven’t once seen her spending time with what one might call friends or even her classmates.
Even right now, if someone approaches her, boy or girl, she greets them with a pleasant smile, but never joins in. Before long, she drifts back into solitude again. It gave the impression of someone who deliberately avoids forming any particularly close relationships.
That preference of solitude reminded me a little of Ayanokoji-kun himself, though I quickly checked myself. Perhaps I was stretching the resemblance too far.
After all, Ayanokoji-kun wasn’t someone who refused friendship; he was someone who simply couldn’t make friends, even if he wanted to.
“It wasn’t all just an act, was it? Surely not,” I murmured.
Karuizawa-san shook her head firmly. “No. I don’t think it was just an act. If anything, that’s one of the real traits they have in common.”
Setting aside my own pitiful ignorance of him, it was clear that he wasn't that good at dealing with people. That part was probably genuine.
We kept our distance, quietly trailing behind Amasawa-san as she walked ahead of us. From this vantage point, all I could see was the sway of her red twin tails and the straight line of her back.
In truth, I should have confronted her directly. But the world isn't so kind that she would just open up to me because of that.
Again, this time a male student approached Amasawa-san. The time they spoke was only about five seconds, it mostly looked like just a greeting. Yet even that was enough. Every student who managed to speak to her, however briefly, was worth remembering. Indirectly gathering information was the only thing I could do right now.
Just as I was memorizing his face, the phone in my right hand vibrated.
“What is it?” Karuizawa-san asked.
“Just a moment.”
Taking out my phone, I stared at the message, tilting my head inwardly.
A single line glowed on the screen:
「I’ll be waiting by the student council room.」
“…Who could this be?”
It was a short message from an unregistered contact.
There was no date or time specified, but did they mean right now...?
If today's 2 o'clock appointment had been moved up, then it wouldn't be strange for a message to arrive from Nanase-san.
So is this about something else?
While I stood there pondering, Amasawa-san’s figure grew smaller, walking further into Keyaki Mall.
I have to follow her, I told myself, But instead, I pressed the screen dark and closed my eyes.
“It can't be helped…”
As student council president, I couldn’t afford to act on impulse. If someone was waiting in the council room, then I had a responsibility to answer them.
Even if—though it was a one percent chance at best—it might just be from Ayanokoji-kun.
As a realistic possibility, it might even be part of the next Special Exam.
“I'm sorry. This is sudden, but I have to stop by the student council.”
I apologized for having to cut things short without even being able to have lunch together, despite being the one who invited her.
Karuizawa-san, however, simply shook her head with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry about it at all. Really. Also I’m not going to follow Amasawa-san around by myself, so you don’t need to be concerned.”
She had already anticipated the very warning I’d intended to give her, putting my unease to rest before I could voice it aloud.
I thanked her with another apology, then turned my steps toward the school.
Part 2
It took me roughly ten minutes to reach the student council room. Yet when I arrived, the hallway was empty, no sign of anyone waiting.
I pulled out my phone, but there were no follow-up messages either. The silence of the empty hallway pressed in on me.
Of course, it was a holiday, and at this hour the student council room would naturally be locked and unused.
“…A prank?” I muttered under my breath.
Still, unease gnawed at me. Just in case, I took out the key entrusted to me and unlocked the door.
The room greeted me with silence, heavy and absolute. No figures, no movement, not even the creak of furniture. I lingered only briefly before retreating back into the hallway, deciding to wait for a while longer.
But no matter how long I stood there, no one came. Only time slipped away, the minutes piling uselessly on top of each other.
Maybe I should have just followed Amasawa-san instead.
While a little regret began to sprout, I decided to head home for now since I still had about two hours until my original student council duties.
I descended the stairs to the first floor and started walking toward the entrance.
“President Horikita.”
I had only taken a few steps down the hallway when suddenly a voice cut through the empty hallway.
Until now, I hadn’t seen a single person in my field of vision. Startled, I spun around.
“You're... Ishigami-kun, aren't you? Do you need something from me?”
Clad neatly in his uniform, Ishigami Kyo of Class 2-A stood before me.
It was a name I hadn’t recalled in some time, and an even rarer face to see here, of all places.
I began to wonder what could have brought him here. After all, it was Saturday. Unless one had club activities, the chances of encountering another student on campus should be extremely low.
“It’s been a while,” he said politely. “I have something to discuss, may I have a moment of your time?”
“Of course, It really has been quite some time since we last spoke.”
He gave a faint nod. “Back then, it was you who reached out to me, President.”
“That's right.” I said softly, as the memory flickered back.
That day I had extended an invitation for him to join the student council. He had refused without hesitation, though there was nothing wrong with that. Whether one accepted or not was a matter of personal choice. If I recalled correctly, Ayanokoji-kun had been there that day as well…
“Would you mind if we moved to a different location?” Ishigami-kun asked suddenly.
“A different location? Is it something... difficult to discuss here?”
“I would prefer it if no one saw us. I won’t trouble you too much.”
Without waiting for my reply, he turned his back to me and began walking away. I paused for a moment, considering. There was no urgent reason for me to rush home, so there was no harm in hearing him out. But… the school was eerily quiet on this holiday, the halls deserted. It didn’t matter where we spoke, no one would overhear us. Which only meant this was something he was determined to keep out of others’ ears.
“Was it you,” I asked quietly, “who sent me that message?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Why do you think that?”
“You don’t start with a denial, I see.”
I observed his reaction. There was no trace of confusion in his expression when I mentioned the message. On the contrary, his demeanor carried the ease of someone who had already acknowledged the truth. He didn’t seem particularly inclined to conceal it.
“If you truly had something to discuss,” I said evenly, “then on a quiet holiday like this, I could have listened anywhere. Yet you specifically said you didn’t want to be seen. If we had met in the student council room, there was always a chance someone might’ve come by, or worse, other council members could have gathered. And besides, you stopped me on my way back from that very room. In other words, you first confirmed I was alone before making your move.”
He must have maneuvered, I realized. Lingering just outside my line of sight, waiting for the one moment he could step in without notice.
“I admit it, I apologize for using such a roundabout method.”
“I don’t particularly mind. But if this is some pressing matter involving the student council, you must understand, I may not be able to keep it to myself.”
The bigger the problem, the more responsibility we bear to make the information public, not just to the students, but to the faculty as well.
“You needn’t worry about that,”
I narrowed my eyes. “That isn’t something you can decide on your own.”
Then, his words came, quiet and steady, yet carrying weight. “What I wanted to discuss… is that you’ve been looking into Amasawa quite a bit, haven’t you, President?”
Ishigami-kun’s pace never faltered, his eyes fixed ahead, his voice carrying as though this were nothing more than casual conversation.
“…What do you mean?”
My composure wavered despite myself. His words had caught me off guard, but I forced myself to feign ignorance.
I had never once connected Ishigami-kun to Amasawa-san. Yet perhaps I had underestimated him. If Amasawa-san had noticed my surveillance earlier than expected, she could have sought Ishigami-kun’s cooperation. That possibility was far from improbable.
“You don’t start with a denial,”
He stopped abruptly, then turned to face me, his gaze sharp and unwavering. His eyes bore into mine as if to strip away the veil I was trying to keep in place, to measure the unease I struggled to hide.
A delayed surge of caution rose within me, all at once.
“Amasawa and I are in the same class. If there’s anything unusual about her, information naturally comes to me.”
“...I see.”
For the past few days, I had arbitrarily analyzed Amasawa-san as a student who preferred to act alone.
But in reality, that was likely not the case.
Was she troubled by me following her and confided in Ishigami-kun, seeking his help—?
No, but...
“You were dissatisfied that I was investigating your classmate. Is this a warning?”
“No. But I do need to know why the student council is looking into Amasawa. If there is a problem with her, the class will be forced to take responsibility, after all.”
A logical reason. For Class A, which prided themselves with order and stability, a classmate’s misconduct wasn’t just personal, it threatened the collective. It’s not surprising they’d have their radars out for potential scandal among their own.
“In that case, you can rest assured. She isn’t causing any problems.”
First, I had to dispel his suspicion. And conveniently, doing so would also serve my own purpose.
“Then could you tell me the real reason?” he pressed.
“Do you know a third-year student from Class C, named Ayanokoji-kun?”
“I've never spoken to him directly, but even among the second-years, he's become quite the topic of conversation as the student who voluntarily transferred from Class A to Class C.”
“I see, so you do know him. When I bring this up, most students want to ask me how I feel about it, but you don't seem to be like that.”
“Unfortunately, I have no interest in other school years. Now, I don't see how that has any connection to you investigating Amasawa.”
It seems Ishigami-kun is only interested in his own class's affairs.
That's hardly good news for me... but for now, I'll continue the conversation.
“I'm trying to find a student who knows about his life before he enrolled at this school. And in the process, the possibility has emerged that Amasawa-san is an old acquaintance of Ayanokoji-kun's. That's why I want to ask her in detail, but she and I are not particularly close. I'm hesitant to ask her head-on, so instead, I’ve been searching for a way in, some kind of lead that would let me approach her naturally.”
“Why is the Student Council President investigating someone who betrayed their class?”
“It isn’t something that happens often at this school,” I replied calmly, “but once a class transfer has occurred, it becomes an issue that can’t be ignored. He’s in Class C now, which makes him my enemy. Seeking out every scrap of information to eventually defeat him is hardly strange, wouldn’t you agree?”
“So to know your enemy, you intend to step into enemy territory?”
“Something like that. I may continue looking into Amasawa-san in the future, but rest assured, it will not negatively affect Class 2-A.”
“I understand. However, I can’t say how those around us will perceive it. If the student council president’s eyes are fixed on Amasawa, it could easily give others the impression there’s trouble within our class. I would prefer you resolve this as quickly as possible.”
It's not like I want to drag this out either, but if things went that smoothly, I wouldn’t be struggling this much already.
“For now, I don't have any information regarding Ayanokoji-senpai, but I have a slight idea of someone who might know about his past.”
“Really? Who?”
I asked in response to his intriguing statement, but Ishigami-kun didn't answer right away.
“I don't mind telling you, but there is one thing I would like you to promise. The name I give you should never be traced back to me. That is to say, I would like you to absolutely keep my identity confidential.”
For a fleeting moment the thought that he might demand Private Points or something as an information fee had crossed my mind, but it seems that was not the case.
“If that is what you wish, I promise to protect your anonymity.”
“The person in question is a rather sharp student. Naturally, they will try to trace the trail back to its source. When that happens, you’ll need to handle that with the pride of Class A, and as student council president. Are you confident you can?”
He was pressing me deliberately, applying weight to his words, ensuring I felt the burden before taking it on. Perhaps to Ishigami-kun, this person was dangerous enough to warrant such precautions.
But really, that much was obvious. If someone truly knew Ayanokoji-kun’s past, then by definition they were no ordinary student—they were someone formidable.
“I will do my utmost. Right now, all I can do is ask you to believe in my resolve.”
I answered this way, intending to refuse, if he demanded a wager, or tried to bind me into some kind of contract.
“Very well. I will trust you, Student Council President Horikita, and provide the information.”
“...Thank you.”
His next words, however, froze me.
“It's a female student in Class 2-D named Nanase. Since she's a member of the Student Council, you know her well, don't you?”
A name I hadn’t even considered. Someone far too close, far too familiar. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank.
“…I’m afraid that’s impossible,” I said at last, regaining my composure. “I once had an occasion to ask her a similar question over a cup of tea. She told me she didn’t know anything.”
“Or perhaps she simply didn’t tell you the truth?”
Not just a whim, but with a tone that carried quite confidence, Ishigami-kun directed his gaze at me.
“…And why do you think that? I can’t doubt her without cause.”
“Even as a member of Class A, I am constantly gathering information on other classes. In that process, I have grasped things such as Nanase's early contact with Ayanokoji-senpai.”
“That's—” I nearly spoke too much.
Nanase-san had been involved in that exam last year, the secret one only revealed to a select few first-years: The test that offered private points in exchange for Ayanokoji-kun’s expulsion. She was one of the participants. The truth hovered on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it back.
Not every second-year knew of that, and the third-years certainly didn’t. To carelessly dredge it up now would only stir a hornet’s nest. No one would gain anything from it.
“During the first special exam your year faced, my class contacted hers to establish cooperation. Perhaps it was just connected to that?”
“We are aware of that much. But isn't it possible that even that initial coordination was orchestrated by Nanase solely as a means to get in contact with Ayanokoji-senpai?”
“If they were truly old acquaintances, she could have spoken to him openly. There would be no need to weave such schemes—”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Ishigami-kun cut in softly, retreating just enough to leave me uncertain whether he had truly conceded. “If it’s only my imagination, then that’s fine. Forget I ever said anything.”
Nanase-san knows Ayanokoji-kun's past?
It was only speculation, based solely on Ishigami-kun’s suggestion, with no solid evidence to back it. But just by having that possibility presented, even for a moment, it was now etched into a corner of my mind.
No matter how unlikely, if by chance it were true… if Nanase-san really held that knowledge—
“…Would you be willing to cooperate with me?”
“Cooperate? With what, exactly?”
“I want to look into Nanase-san. Just in case. You’re both second-years, even if you’re in different classes, you must have at least some points of contact with her, right?”
“That's true, but I think cooperation would be difficult. That’s partly why I requested anonymity. You see… Nanase dislikes me.”
“She dislikes you? Over the class conflicts?”
“I've had to intervene in endless troubles with Hosen from Class D, even outside of Special Exams. I can't pinpoint the cause, but it's certain that I'm disliked.”
It has been proven by the OAA that Ishigami-kun has excellent academic ability. He doesn't seem to be the leader of his class, but if assumed he contributes to the class in a position close to that of a strategist, then it's a natural dynamic for her to be hostile towards Ishigami-kun— or rather, his class as an enemy.
Still, from what I knew of her, she wasn’t the kind of girl to extend class hostilities into her personal relationships. At least, not based on what I know about her.
If Ishigami-kun didn’t know her true nature, then perhaps his interpretation was only natural.
Or perhaps—my eyes flickered towards him—he simply didn’t want to get dragged into troublesome affairs, and was using this “dislike” as a convenient excuse.
Whether he is a trustworthy person or not is unknown, but right now, I need allies.
“…Very well,” Ishigami-kun said after a moment of thought. “I can’t act openly, but I’ll make discreet inquiries, to an extent that my identity is not discovered. I’ll also consider the possibility that Nanase is uninvolved, and instead check on Amasawa… or anyone else who might know something about Ayanokoji-senpai. As for you, President Horikita, just keep your promise with me, and proceed with your investigation freely.”
“Yes, thank you. Even if I'm pressed, I will protect you at all costs.”
“I'm looking forward to seeing the results. Well then,”
Ishigami-kun said softly before turning his back. He walked away, not toward the entrance, but deliberately in the opposite direction. Perhaps it was a caution, so that Nanase-san would not, even by the slightest chance, catch sight of him together with me.
The more I try to uncover the truth about Ayanokoji-kun, the more I feel myself sinking, as though into a bottomless swamp.
“Ayanokoji-kun… just who are you…?” I whispered into the empty air.
Even so, I had no choice but to recklessly wade through the mud, chasing after the silhouette of his back.
But at that moment, even as I renewed my resolve, I still knew nothing.
Nothing of Ayanokoji-kun’s true origin.
Nothing of the existence of that harsh and unreal facility, where ordinary imagination could never reach, nor of the education it imposed.
Nothing of how, among countless children broken and discarded one after another, he alone endured.
Nothing of the cruel fate that awaited him ahead in life.
Surely, this was the turning point.
My reunion with him, Ishigami-kun, marked the beginning of a profound irreversible change in my life.
It was the start of my deep entanglement with the life of one man— Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
An encounter orchestrated from the shadows.
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