Chapter 9: Enemies and Allies

Chapter 9: Enemies and Allies

Chapter 9:

Enemies and Allies

W HERE DID THE RESPONSIBILITY for Class A’s defeat lie? That question had an obvious answer from the beginning: It lay with me.

Though I was entrusted with the position of class leader, I was so shaken by Ayanokouji-kun’s transfer that I couldn’t pull myself together and come up with even a single strategy. If I had had one or two plans that could have been executed effectively, we might have had a good chance of winning…

Or maybe this was simply just an unfortunate result, a dismal failure on account of the circumstances? Unable to come up with an explanation, I remained in the classroom, alone. After we lost, not a single person came up to openly condemn me. On the contrary, everyone consoled me, telling me that there was always next time. However, most of those kind words directed at me from Sudou-kun and my other classmates didn’t stick with me. I didn’t remember the details of what they said. I just couldn’t recall.

I had found myself just sitting in my chair, my head empty, and before I realized it, I was the last one in the room. I suddenly gazed out of the window from the classroom, which was now being steeped in the dark of dusk. It finally struck me that the sun was about to set.

“I need to head back…” I muttered to myself.

Without thinking, I got up and put my hand on the door before realizing that I had forgotten my bag. I returned to my desk once more to get it before I walked down the empty hallway toward the exit. What am I doing here , I wondered. What am I trying to achieve by being here?

I felt very alone. I was becoming hopeless, feeling like there was nothing I could do. Would I be able to get it together tomorrow? I didn’t know. I didn’t have the answers to anything. I was stuck in a loop. I put on my shoes, stepped outside, and started walking back to the dormitory.

All I want is to go back to my room … I thought. I just want to go back to my dorm room and lie in bed right n—

An unexpected jolt suddenly interrupted my thoughts and shook my field of vision. I felt an intense pain shoot through my back as I was sent flying forward.