The arms race of voice recorders had officially begun.
Class C, which should have been the first to enter the field, had instead joined last.
And yet, the one who started it all—Asakusa Toru—had no awareness of it whatsoever. He was currently lying in Sakura Airi's dorm room.
"…."
Even though there were already two people inside, the door remained unlocked, footsteps approaching from outside.
Even though a girl was currently cradling soone's head against her chest, gently stroking him in an intimate position that shouldn't be seen—Sakura showed no sign of panic.
There was no need to question it.
There was only one possible visitor.
Kushida Kikyo.
The spare keycards had long been exchanged.
Although Toru didn't actually need them, holding them symbolized permission—
Access.
The dorm had beco a promised land.
With access granted, and Sakura's "special mode" unlocked, the possibilities had expanded far beyond what one might expect.
Living together with Sakura-mama.
Tea ti. Head pats. Sudden intrusions. Cat-like teasing…
In short—life was very comfortable.
It wasn't like Toru had always been this decadent.
After graduating from the White Room, he had made so effort to observe Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's behavior.
Even if their physical abilities were equal, and even if Toru had overwhelming advantage with throwable recording devices—
What if that "machine" resorted to sneak attacks?
You could be a thief for a thousand days, but never guard against one for a thousand days.
But after observing for several days, Toru realized—
Ayanokoji hadn't changed at all.
Still like a robot.
Class. Break. als. Dorm. Hanging out with idiots.
Completely unchanged.
Toru couldn't understand why Horikita Suzune still hadn't figured out that the real anomaly was Ayanokoji himself.
But whatever.
That test had already expired.
Even if she found him now—it wouldn't count.
Though honestly…
If she had found him back then, Toru might've rewarded her with more information.
Maybe sothing like—
"So idiot nad Nagumo is eyeing your brother."
…
Alright, maybe not rumors.
He'd stick to truths.
Like how Nagumo Miyabi cared most about Horikita Manabu.
Or how Manabu paid the most attention to Nagumo.
Or how a certain girl with a bun liked the student council president, yet he showed no interest—only reacting emotionally to one specific person.
All facts.
Ask anyone.
They'd agree.
"Turn around."
Kushida's voice ca from behind.
"I'm here to exercise my usage rights over Asakusa Toru."
There was irritation in her tone.
Soone must have annoyed her.
Sakura's eyes began to dart nervously.
Even now, she still couldn't boldly declare things like "usage rights" the way Kushida could.
Only when she couldn't hold back anymore would she convince herself—
"I'm the mother. I'm allowed."
That was the only way she could act.
She knew she was weak.
But—
If soone tried to take the "baby" from her arms right in front of her…
Maybe…
Just maybe…
She could fight for it.
"N-No… right now… I'm the mother…"
She hugged Toru tighter, her voice trembling.
An unexpected reaction.
Kushida blinked in surprise.
Compared to Toru—who was always available—
Sakura's sudden resistance was far more interesting.
"Mm, mm. It's Sakura-mama's ti right now," Toru said with a smile, turning his head slightly to press closer. "If Kikyo-mama needs , please wait your turn."
Kushida didn't get angry.
Not easily, not anymore.
But sothing felt… off.
Not mockery.
Sothing familiar.
Not the familiarity of intimacy.
Not the familiarity of shared ti.
Sothing deeper.
…Herself.
His expression.
His tone.
His deanor.
At so point—
He had started copying her.
Her perfected smile.
Her crafted warmth.
Her carefully built "affinity."
He had stolen it.
No wonder Sakura suddenly had courage.
Her trust had shifted.
Stolen.
"…Good."
Kushida smiled sweetly.
"Then Airi, you can keep holding that bad boy who copies others and steals trust."
"I'll just take the lower half."
...
Punishnt ca and went quickly.
Through Kikyo's breathless explanation, Toru finally understood her irritation.
So that's how the Affinity Aura worked.
Not by forcibly altering perception—
But by subtly adjusting expressions and presence.
Much more acceptable.
But…
Did it still work on people who already knew him?
Toru didn't know.
But sothing else caught his attention more.
"You've been ssing with that little princess?"
Kushida casually asked while drying her hair.
"People from Class A have been asking about you."
"Recently?"
Toru raised an eyebrow.
He'd always been provoking Sakayanagi.
But she didn't know it was him.
Otherwise, she would've co directly.
So why now?
"…Since Friday."
Kushida nodded.
"Class C set up so kind of trap for a guy in Class B. Sothing about a violence incident."
She leaned against him, the sound of running water from the bathroom in the background.
"It ended because the princess stepped in."
Of course.
Connections at work.
So enviable.
"If you hadn't been staying in, I'd think you were working with Ryuuen," she added, smacking his thigh lightly.
After all, he had traded exam intel with Class C before.
Though she'd never actually seen him go there.
…Except the library.
With Shiina Hiyori.
Reading novels together.
…Honestly, aside from his questionable sanity, he was exceptional.
Observation. Execution.
Top-tier.
"Hey."
She suddenly asked—
"Why do you think you were placed in Class B?"
She wanted to know more about him.
She had already begun to want more than just this surface-level relationship.
He was… different.
Unique.
"I?"
Toru thought briefly.
"Probably because I'm lazy, but not useless. So they just tossed into Class B."
He grabbed her hand casually.
"As for you in Class D… I can guess."
"I didn't ask for that," she rolled her eyes.
Useless answer.
…Maybe she should ask the diary instead.
She still had one question left.
And Horikita had two.
Might as well borrow one.
The sound of water stopped.
The bathroom door opened with a click.
Steam spilled out.
Sakura stepped out, wrapped in a towel, tiptoeing.
"I-I'm done…"
She avoided eye contact.
"D-Do you… want to stay… and sleep together?"
A rare invitation.
She wanted to hold him tonight.
"Sure."
Kushida answered imdiately, smiling brightly.
No way she'd let them sleep alone together.
Even if she was the one who brought Sakura in.
"Eh—?!"
...
The bed wasn't small.
But for three people—
It was tight.
Unless—
They overlapped.
And they did.
Entwined.
Clinging.
Breathing in each other's presence.
Listening to Toru's steady heartbeat.
That night—
Sakura Airi experienced the most peaceful sleep she had ever known.
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