As the evening approached, the sun began to set.

Its golden rays of light gently rippled out, colouring the sky in a hazy blend of deep orange and yellow hues.

The warm summer breeze drifted in the air freely, brushing past me, Kurosaki, and Sakate as we waited patiently at the docks.

"Oh, there it is!"

Kurosaki squinted, pointing at a fuzzy white dot coming towards us in the distance.

The dot's shape became clearer as it approached us, revealing its sleek and dynamic design.

When it was within eye view, I could see someone standing at the bow of the ship.

"Yeah... I see it."

It was none other than the owner of this yacht— Mikazuchi Kaido.

"Sakate... what's so important you called me back here?"

Parking his yacht at the docks, Kaido descended from a flight of stairs.

For some reason, he looked really lethargic. Did he not get enough sleep last night?

"Yo, Kaido! Thanks for coming on such short notice!"

Casually greeting him, Sakate lightly raised his hand.

"You're welcome, but this better be worth it... I'm trying to get some rest and relaxation after the trip to New York."

Since when did he go to New York...? I thought it was forbidden to leave the island during school semesters.

"Sorry, I promise it'll be quick."

"If it's not, I'll sue you for lying."

Stopping halfway down the staircase, Kaido met eye to eye with me.

He then narrowed his eyes and pointed at me.

"...Sakate, what's the meaning of this?"

"The meaning of what?"

"Look who's with you, dumbass."

"Oh..."

Sakate laughed nervously as he looked back at me and Kurosaki.

"Hey, Kaido. Long time no see."

Kurosaki smiled, waving at him. Since it looked like he was in a bad mood, I kept to myself and didn't say anything.

"A-aha ha ha, well... you see, Yuu-kun would like to speak with you."

"...what does this loner virgin shut-in NEET loser with daddy issues who has a crush on his mom want from me now?"

Kaido grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

Jeez, where did that insult come from? I didn't even do anything, yet he was already out for blood. What's got him in such a bad mood today?

"Oi, Yuuto."

Breaking my train of thought, Kaido looked down at me with a gaze so spiteful, it made me wonder why he was even bothering to interact with me.

Judging by how stressed he looked, I guess he was looking to take it all out on me today. I braced for the worst.

"Kaido-senpai..."

"Did you forget what would happen if you came knocking on my door again?"

"I-I haven't... but this is an emergency..."

His gaze was so pressuring, it made me stammer without realising it.

"What's so urgent that you'd risk your life for it?"

"That... I..."

The words were caught in my throat. I lowered my head, unable to speak.

Sakate looked at me worriedly as I was paralysed with fear.

The idea of talking to Kaido became too much for me.

I wanted to run away and hide, but I was stuck in place.

However, instead of going back...

...I was sent stumbling forward with a gentle push.

Pushing my back was Kurosaki, who smiled encouragingly at me.

"You can do it."

Those words gave me courage.

For a moment, I stopped hesitating.

And in that second, I mustered everything I could to confront the monster that was standing in front of me.

I took a deep breath and gritted my teeth, clenching my fists.

"I... I—!"

Planting my foot firmly on the staircase leading up to his yacht, I met Kaido's fierce gaze with my own.

"I need your help, Kaido-senpai! You're the only one who can help me!"

Kaido looked down on me. Then, he turned his back on me.

Sakate's jaw dropped while Kurosaki closed her eyes.

I knew it... I knew he wasn't going to help.

I slumped my shoulders, feeling defeated.

I'm sorry, Shinomiya...

I wasn't able to protect you...

I wasn't able to help you...

It's just like last time...

Just like yesterday... mommy is crying all by herself again.

I want to stop her crying, but...

...it's my fault why she's crying.

I...

I... I—

"Ten minutes."

"...huh?"

I looked up at Kaido, my eyes widening.

"You heard what I said."

Kaido muttered, stepping back onto his yacht.

"Wait, what do you—"

Before I could finish, someone pushed me up the stairs.

"It means you have ten minutes of his time, Takanori. Good job."

It was Kurosaki, smiling at me.

"Senpai..."

"I'm leaving this to you, okay? Don't mess it up."

"...I'll do my best."

"Yuu-kun, you legend! That was awesome!"

Sakate ran up to me and slung an arm around my shoulder, grinning.

"See, what'd I tell ya? As long as you ask earnestly, he'll give you a chance!"

"Yeah... I guess you were right after all."

"I'm always right, haiyah."

Sakate let go of me and ran back down to the docks.

"Now hurry up the stairs, you're wasting precious time!"

"Right... I'll see you guys in a bit."

I waved goodbye as I rushed up onto the yacht.

"Good luck, Takanori!"

"You've got this, Yuu-kun!"

Walking through the main body of the yacht, I met Kaido at the bow.

"It's bold of you to ask for my help, Yuuto. Things must be pretty dire if you're turning to me."

"To be honest, I'm more surprised that you're willing to hear me out... I thought for sure you'd kill me for sure if I came back here again."

"I was going to, but then I saw the look in your eyes. For a moment, it looked like you actually had a backbone."

"Thanks... I think?"

"It's not a compliment. I'm saying you're a spineless idiot."

"Oh..."

I figured he meant to insult me when he said that.

"That's besides the point. What do you want from me, then?"

As Kaido stared at me, I started becoming nervous again. I clenched my fists tighter and swallowed the lump in my throat.

Now that I've come this far... I can't back out now.

"...can you expel the 2nd Year A Class student, Oozora Yuudai?"

Kaido laughed.

"What?"

I gritted my teeth.

"I'm being serious... I want you to expel Oozora."

"Don't be ridiculous. You want me to expel someone for you? You're delusional."

"You're the only person I can ask... you're the only person on this island with enough private points to do this."

"It really was a mistake showing you my bank account."

"Please, Kaido-senpai..."

"Hang on, before you start grovelling on the floor and begging for my help, at least tell me why you want this guy expelled. I never particularly liked Oozora-san either, but I never thought you out of all people would get entangled with him."

"I swear, I have a good reason to..."

"Then stop beating around the brush and tell me."

I quickly explained to Kaido what happened yesterday and earlier this afternoon. He sighed, closing his eyes.

"...for Shinomiya-senpai's sake, I want him gone. I want Oozora to be expelled so she can feel safe again."

"In other words... you want to exact your own justice?"

"Yes... I want justice for Shinomiya-senpai."

"How ironic..."

Kaido muttered under his breath, turning his back on me.

"The day you execute your justice, the day your justice broke down. Ever heard of that quote before, Yuuto?"

My head stung as those words pierced my brain.

"No... I haven't..."

"You should. It's one of your father's most famous quotes."

Don't mention him around me...

"Guess what his message was when he wrote that."

The shadow reappeared for the second time today, swaying back and forth tauntingly.

"I... I don't know."

"It means you'll end up suffering the consequences if you try to take things into your own hands."

Of course he'd write something like that...

"Even knowing that, are you sure you want to go forward with this?"

"Yes. I don't care if I lose everything. I don't care if I'm hurt by the end of this. All that matters to me is expelling Oozora, no matter what it takes."

"You must really like this Shinomiya girl, huh?"

Kaido looked at me over his shoulder.

"Alright, fine. I'll strike you a deal."

My eyes widened.

"You will?"

"Yeah. I'll expel Oozora Yuudai from the school. In exchange..."

Kaido smirked surreptitiously.

"...I want you to drop out of GEN Academy."

My shoulders slumped.

The shadow swayed violently, overlapping with Kaido an instant.

"Huh...?"

"Don't act so shocked. You've been a pain in my ass for the past three months. I'll take any chance I get to get rid of you."

"But... but you... but what about becoming your rival...? What about the Claret Sword you gave me?!"

"You were never going to reach Chisaki-senpai's level. As for Claret, I'll just have you return it to me before you leave. Simple as."

I wanted to scream. But no words would come out of my mouth.

Kaido, I'll never forgive you...!

All that consumed my body in this moment was hatred.

"What's it going to be, Yuuto? Will you drop out? Or will you stay on the island? The choice is all yours."

"You can't be serious..."

"I am serious. It's either both you and Oozora-san go, or neither of you go."

Kaido turned his back on me.

Before irrationality could take over my head, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Dropping out of GEN Academy, huh...?

For a moment, I seriously considered it.

What have I achieved at this school?

When I think about it... nothing, really.

I originally came here with the goal of living an ordinary school life, but my peaceful days were ruined by the world which kept asking more of me.

At each and every challenge, I've tasted the dirt of defeat. I've lost countless times to other people stronger than me...

People like Zyriot... Kaido... Kishou.

In fact, I wouldn't even be in the position I'm in now if I didn't lose to Mikazuchi-sensei back in April...

The only thing I've successfully done is blackmail Alice and Matsushita into working for me... but that can barely be considered a feat.

If anything, resorting to such underhanded tricks could be seen as worse than losing.

Maybe it would be better if I dropped out...

However...

Just because I lost in the past doesn't mean I can't win in the future.

This special exam is the stage I've been waiting for to carve my mark into this school.

Everything I've done in the past two weeks was for this moment. I've poured everything into ensuring a complete victory.

Not just for my sake. But for Yukina's, Nora's, and the rest of E Class's sake as well.

That's why I can't let all my hard work be stripped away from me by Kaido. After everything I've done for this moment... I can't accept a ridiculous request like "dropping out".

There's just no way I can leave this school just yet.

Not until I taste the sweet nectar of victory.

"...I refuse."

After a few seconds, Kaido turned to face me. On his face was a smug grin.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"...you are?"

"If you answered with something stupid like "yes", then I would've expelled just you on the spot instead."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Wait... I don't get it. Does that mean you were testing me...?"

"Pretty much. If you accepted my deal, it would've made you look weak and desperate. Since you were willing to sacrifice your life at this school just to get rid of him, I could've demanded even more than just expulsion from you. There's nothing heroic about that, especially when you're not even on a first name basis with her."

For some reason, it felt like Kaido was insulting my relationship with Shinomiya.

"But, since you had the balls to stand up for yourself for once, and it was against me of all people... I guess I can help you out. To an extent."

Great... I knew this sounded too good to be true. Of course there'd be another limitation.

"The cost of expelling someone else is 20 million private points, the same amount as it is to negate an expulsion. Since Oozora-san has only 5 million private points currently, if you expel him now, he won't be able to overturn it. As such, I'm willing to cover half of the cost for you. I'll fund 10 million, but you have to cover the rest of it by yourself. Think you can do that much, stupid?"

I was shocked. I came into Kaido's yacht thinking he wouldn't cooperate, but right now he's offering 10 million in aid...

I'd be an idiot not to take it.

"Kaido-senpai... thank you very much! I... no, we appreciate it!"

I bowed deeply in gratitude. Kaido sneered.

"I'm only doing this because I think scumbags like Oozora-san don't deserve to stay on the island. Even so, I'm not the type to endorse vigilante justice. Your father has a point with that quote. If you want it done, do the rest yourself. This is as far as I'll go."

"I'll find a way to get the remaining 10 million... I swear it."

"Good. Obviously, I'm not going to give you the 10 million right now. There's no way I'm trusting you with that many points. You might end up spending it on something unrelated to the expulsion. Once you put that money together, come back here and show me. That's when I'll give you the rest."

"Alright... that's a deal."

"Perfect."

A beeping sound came from Kaido's phone. He took it out and turned off the timer.

"And would you look at that? Ten minutes is up exactly. Now get off my yacht before I sue you and your entire family for emotional damage."

"Y-yes, Kaido-senpai..."

He was so generous back there, I nearly forgot how grouchy he could be.

By the time I got off his yacht, the sky was now pitch black and dotted with silver stars.

Kurosaki was still at the docks, waiting for me. It seems Sakate took his leave since his job here was done.

"Hey, how did it go?"

"...way better than I expected."

"Oh? What happened?"

"Kaido-senpai agreed to pay 10 million points towards Oozora's expulsion. We just need to fund another 10 million ourselves to claim it."

"Damn, he really is rich... I wish I had as many points he did."

Kurosaki was the type to spend all her points each month, so she was always short on cash.

"Still though, getting 10 million won't be an easy task. Even if everyone chipped in, we'd barely be able to scrape 1 million points."

"Do you happen to know any other rich people?"

"There's the Royalty, but I'm pretty sure all of them would be opposed to the suggestion of expelling a student. Except... probably Hina, only if because she's such a sweetheart."

"Somehow, that sounds contradicting..."

"If we explain about Oozora to her, I think it'd tug on her heartstrings enough and get her to generously donate. You know how she is about the weak and vulnerable."

"...she's the type to do anything to protect them, right?"

"Mhm. It's why she has such a soft spot for you guys in E Class."

I could tell that because she created the safe room for those types of students. Even in my few interactions with her, she treated me with kindness and respect. It made feel like her equal, rather than her lesser.

"It probably wouldn't hurt to ask her."

"I'll talk to her about it tomorrow then. Her mansion's in Megiddo Blue, annoyingly."

"Alright. I'll see what I can do as well."

With 10 million Pr secured now under our belts, me and Kurosaki waved goodbye at each other before parting ways.