Although the rumors contained some exaggerations, most normal people would choose to distance themselves from her after hearing something like that.
Just like the classmates currently eavesdropping on their conversation.
Only an idiot like Ryouma would trust her so easily.
Kushida had long since grown accustomed to receiving other people's trust.
In fact, she enjoyed it.
Yet even as she secretly mocked Amakawa for his foolishness, she couldn't help feeling a little happy.
It was the same emotion called 'trust', and yet...
The trust Ryouma showed her at this moment somehow felt different from everyone else's.
Like a small light shining in the darkness, it filled her with an unexpected warmth.
But that was all.
Right now, something else was far more important.
She had to seize the opportunity Ryouma had handed her!
"Amakawa-kun, thank you so much."
Kikyo Kushida revealed a brilliant smile.
A few tears glistened at the corners of her eyes, and her voice soon began trembling.
"School has only just started... Why does something like this have to happen to me? It's so cruel..."
By the end of her sentence, Kushida covered her pretty face with both hands and lowered her head, preventing anyone from seeing her expression.
It looked as though she was pouring out her grievances to Ryouma.
The entire classroom instantly fell silent.
Only Kushida's occasional sobs echoed through the room.
Nobody had expected a careless rumor spread by some anonymous person to hurt such a kind girl so deeply!
Whoever spread those rumors had really gone too far!
How could someone bear to slander such a beautiful girl?!
Most of the students suddenly found themselves thinking the same thing.
'Poor Kushida. She's the real victim here!'
"It's okay, Kushida."
Hirata stepped forward at just the right moment and spoke considerately.
"We're your classmates. We know what kind of girl you are."
"Exactly!"
A Chinese girl named Mei-Yu Wang bravely reached out and held Kushida's hand.
"There's no way a girl as cute as Kushida-chan could possibly be a bad person! Don't worry, everyone. If I'm saying it, then it must be true!"
Haruki Yamauchi, one of the class's three idiots, confidently thumped his chest.
The girls nearby gradually gathered around Kikyo Kushida again, offering words of comfort.
Hirata hadn't actually made any definitive statement about Kushida's character.
But that was already enough.
The entire classroom was now filled with an atmosphere that practically screamed:
'Everyone, hurry up and comfort Kushida!'
Kushida also appeared to gradually regain her spirits.
Forcing a small smile, she thanked everyone for their concern.
Ryouma calmly watched everything unfold before returning to his seat.
This was already enough.
Young people had a tendency to trust others rather easily!
Even when they knew something was probably a lie, they often couldn't help feeling secretly pleased or clinging to the hope that things might turn out in their favor.
Whether it was Class D believing Kushida's explanation...
Or Kushida believing in Ryouma's supposed 'foolishness'...
It was all the same!
But Amakawa understood something very clearly.
Even if the others accepted Kushida's explanation now, they would inevitably hesitate before sharing their secrets with her in the future.
In other words...
Kushida would find it extremely difficult to obtain the weapon known as 'the truth' ever again!
From Ryouma's perspective, once students from the other classes understood how this school operated, they would naturally become wary of people from rival classes.
Very few would willingly reveal secrets that could be used against them to someone like Kushida.
Unless, of course, they were idiots like Haruki Yamauchi, who thought with their lower halves instead of their brains.
Kushida's weapon was essentially an anti-self Noble Phantasm.
It was most devastating when used against her own class.
Against outsiders, however, it could only demonstrate about thirty percent of its effectiveness.
"What exactly is the point of doing all this?"
Ryouma had barely sat down when Suzune Horikita spoke from behind him.
However, her gaze remained fixed on the book in her hands.
Clearly, she wasn't particularly interested in the matter.
"We're all classmates, aren't we? Isn't helping a classmate the most natural thing in the world?"
As he said that, Ryouma turned toward Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.
"Don't you agree, Ayanokoji?"
Faced with the sudden question, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji quickly collected his thoughts.
He had already noticed something strange when Horikita spoke earlier.
In fact, he'd been considering asking her for information.
Given Horikita's personality, she rarely initiated conversations without a clear purpose.
But before he could take advantage of the opportunity, Ryouma had interrupted him.
After all...
It was only the second day of school, yet rumors—or perhaps the truth—about one of their classmates had already surfaced.
And the person who felt most uneasy about this situation was actually Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.
While everyone else was busy worrying about Kushida, Ayanokoji was far more concerned about whoever was operating behind the scenes.
Regardless of that person's motives!
As long as their identity and objectives remained unknown, this wasn't an environment in which Kiyotaka Ayanokoji could feel comfortable.
The source of his uneasiness was the relationship between Amakawa and Kushida.
As far as he knew, the two of them hadn't interacted before.
Furthermore, Amakawa wasn't the sort of enthusiastic, helpful person Hirata was.
His sudden actions felt distinctly out of place.
Since asking Horikita was no longer convenient, he'd have to investigate Amakawa himself.
"That's true."
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji spoke casually.
"After all, you and Kushida seem to be pretty close."
"Ayanokoji, that's not a very good way of thinking."
Ryouma continued,
"I believe even ordinary classmates should help one another."
He then turned toward Kushida's direction and countered,
"Are you saying Yamauchi and the others are only comforting Kushida because they're close friends?"
At that moment, Haruki Yamauchi and several other students were gathered around Kushida.