Not a detective

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"Really... How could I make such a basic mistake, setting landmines on the 12th and 9th floors? Didn't I think of the chain reaction explosion?"

"Because you've been thinking of me as a smart person, I know there must be a landmine on the 12th floor."

Moyue smiled and said that her mood seemed to have improved a lot:

"In gambling, having unwavering faith can be a very dangerous thing, you know?"

Kasahara paused for a moment: "You mean... you knew there was a landmine on the 12th floor, and you still stepped on it... How is that possible? Then why didn't you just win in the second round?"

He couldn't understand this person's psychology at all. There was absolutely no intention to follow the rules; instead, it was an extreme and unconventional approach!

So...she was actually in a higher position?!

"Because she just wanted me to experience more explosions and to hop on one leg ridiculously in front of her a few more times."

Kasahara certainly couldn't understand, but after spending more than a year together, Asakawa Riku completely understood the guy's awful personality.

He slowly walked down and looked at the grinning Dongyun Sueyue. She was such a naughty child, doing everything for fun and disregarding victory or defeat.

Perhaps only a madman like this can win?

"Hmph, of course. If there weren't not enough rounds, I would definitely make him step on all three landmines."

Mo Yue was still explaining at length: "If you ask me, the third hidden landmine is definitely buried in—"

"Shut up now."

Asakawa Riku smiled and, before leaving, didn't forget to say goodbye to Kasahara: "Thank you for the game, it was very interesting. Let's play together again next time. I'll discipline her."

He pressed his hand over Dongyun Sueyue's mouth and dragged her away.

Zashiki-warashi no Aki: Chapter Twelve, Stage Two

Why did you interrupt me?

Asakawa Riku released his grip, and Shinonome Suetsuki was finally able to speak. She immediately expressed her dissatisfaction:

“I know perfectly well where the third landmine is. I was just about to say, ‘If we can’t guess it, we lose,’ and I’d still bet on it.”

"I have no doubt that you could guess it—"

Asakawa Riku sighed helplessly and earnestly advised the other party, "But can't you have a little emotional intelligence? Kasahara-san clearly went easy on us, we can't keep pressing the issue like this."

"The water's been released? What are you talking about?"

Mo Yue frowned: "All my steps were strictly in accordance with the rules... It was a completely legitimate and perfect victory. What does it have to do with him throwing the game?"

"It's not about the game being unfair..." Asakawa Riku glanced back to make sure they were far away before whispering, "It's about outside the game."

"Um……"

She closed her eyes for only two seconds before suddenly realizing something was wrong: "You mean—"

"Yes, he should have realized long ago that you were not my classmate at all, but Kasahara deliberately ignored this and let you pass."

Asakawa Riku sighed: "Otherwise, he wouldn't have let it slip that you were my 'helper'... Come to think of it, he's in the student council, he couldn't possibly be mistaken."

"what."

Even Mo Yue was taken aback this time. She was so engrossed in the game that she overlooked such obvious evidence.

"He probably wanted to repay a favor, which is why he didn't expose me. He respected my desire for fair competition in the game, but he still went easy on me in his own way..."

Asakawa Riku smiled and said, "He's such a good person, that's why I can't let you continue. Otherwise, I'd hurt his feelings, and that would be a sin of me."

"I see, okay then."

Mo Yue shook her head and stopped arguing. Although she could throw a tantrum, she wasn't completely unreasonable.

"However, I can't expose him, but can I tell you something?"

But she suddenly leaned close to Asakawa Riku's ear and said with a wicked smile, "The third landmine is—the [1]th layer."

Asakawa Riku was stunned. He hesitated for a moment, knowing he shouldn't be curious, but after struggling, he still couldn't suppress the turmoil in his heart.

So he finally took out the note from his pocket, opened it, and read:

The landmines are located at:

1 floors

9 floors

12 floors.

"How...how did you know that..."

Asakawa Riku raised his eyes in disbelief. Had this girl peeked at the note? Or did she really have prophetic abilities? How could she have guessed all three landmines perfectly?

The mischievous Shinonome Suetsuki merely brushed past him and ran off, yelling, "I won't tell you, hahahaha—"

Asakawa Riku was momentarily distracted, letting this guy get away. He thought she was going to run away, but unexpectedly she said:

"Come on, assistant! I'm getting interested... Where's the next game?!"

Mo Yue ran down the corridor, her long hair swaying back and forth. When she turned around, she had a childlike smile that she had never seen before.

...

The second stage of the "Marineford War" takes place in the student council office on the third floor of the school building.

After successfully overcoming Kasahara's first obstacle, they went upstairs and soon arrived at the office door.

This wasn't Asakawa Riku's first time here. Last year, when he first entered the school, he came here to submit his application to join the "Mystery Club".

However, when he arrived, there were only two or three senior students here, and he doesn't even remember their names now. He doesn't actually know most of the student council members.

So even he was unsure who the "question setter" would be for the next round.

"excuse me."

Asakawa Riku knocked twice, then pushed open the door and went inside.

As soon as I entered, I couldn't help but sigh. As "student organizations," the student council, as the leader, had a huge gap with the mystery club.

Just by looking at the area, you can get a direct sense of its size. It's at least the size of three club activity rooms put together. It's not only the size of a classroom, but also has two additional rooms on the left and right, namely the "President's Office" and the "Meeting Room". The reception room here is fully furnished with tables and chairs, and is also well equipped with computers, water dispensers, printers and other equipment.

It gives you the feeling of standing in a government office, or was that the design intention from the beginning?

The high school that Asakawa Riku attended was an elite school with an extremely high deviation rate. When he was admitted, he relied on the knowledge of two generations of high school students to get in.

Even with his abilities, he could only be considered an upper-middle-class student in his grade, not among the top achievers. Entering the student council here requires not only excellent grades but also outstanding achievements in a specific area. Serving as a student council officer is an experience that can be included in a university resume and will be a guarantee of future success.

It may not be quite a "stepping stone" to the University of Tokyo, but it is at least a very bright spot.

Therefore, the competition for student council spots is actually quite fierce, far more so than for the mystery club. It's no wonder that Kasahara managed to get in; he's truly remarkable.

On the other hand, even if Asakawa Riku hadn't been tied up by the Spider of the Mystery Club, he wouldn't have really longed for this place.

He felt that he was somewhat out of place with the student council's style, especially after the incident last fall, which almost caused the mystery club to face disbandment.

"Ah, Asakawa-san, you're here."

My thoughts were quickly interrupted.

For a moment, Asakawa Riku looked surprised, but the next second it turned into a relieved, wry smile. The person in front of him was an acquaintance, without a doubt.

"I should have thought of that... You should have been one of the question setters, Class President Kato."

Yes, the person sitting in the chair waiting in front of them was none other than their class monitor, Kato Mio, from Class 2B of the second year of high school.

Asakawa Riku's impression of her was still that on the island, where she wore the village chief's primitive clothes, held a wooden staff, and sang a ritual on the stage like a devout priest.

However, now she is simply wearing glasses, a school uniform, and braids, sitting in the student council office, with the same smiling expression as when we usually see her.

"It's so good that the incident on that island was resolved smoothly and no one was left with any lingering problems," Asakawa Riku couldn't help but think.

There's only Kato, the class president, left in the entire student council, and this is the location of the next challenge that Kasahara just mentioned, so it's easy to spot at a glance.

—She should be the gatekeeper of the second stage of the [Marineford War].

Asakawa Riku shook his head, but couldn't help asking the question anyway:

"Class President Kato, when exactly did you become a member of the student council?"

Zashiki-warashi no Autumn: Chapter Thirteen - Dropping and Dropping the Handkerchief

Asakawa Riku actually had a premonition all along.

The competition for the "rooftop stall" was a major event that the whole class was paying attention to, and class president Kato Mio shouldn't have remained indifferent.

As the class monitor, she should be responsible. Besides, she has the best grades in the class, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she's the smartest. Why didn't she become the challenger?

Although Kato Mio herself stated that she "couldn't participate due to other commitments," at this critical juncture, Asakawa Riku could only think of—

She is a member of the student council, and she is responsible for setting the questions, so she cannot participate!

"I'm already in the student council, Asakawa-san. It's you who don't care about the students around you at all."

Class representative Kato smiled and pointed ahead: "So you brought such a beauty with you, no wonder you can't stand the other students in the class~"

She had already seen Higashion Suetsuki following behind Asakawa Riku.

When teased, this guy simply greeted them seriously.

"Hello, I'm Dongfeng from Class B of Grade 11."

She seemed completely unaware of her own limitations, or perhaps she was far too self-aware.

"Hahahaha... Where did you find your helper, Asakawa-kun?"

Class representative Kato couldn't help but laugh: "What should I do? Should I lie and admit that she's a classmate of ours?"

Asakawa Riku glanced at her helplessly:

"If you have any conscience, you should just let us pass. We should have a sense of class honor, shouldn't we?"

"That won't do, that won't do."

Class representative Kato quickly shook his head: "Although I feel very sorry, I have to hold this hurdle. The student council's [accountant] position is very important, and I finally managed to..."

Asakawa Riku interrupted her: "It was just a joke. Since you've participated in the challenge, then give it your all. The fact that you could ignore the fact that you were a substitute player has already helped a lot."

It turns out that Kato Mio's position here is "accountant," which should be considered a relatively high-ranking member of the student council.

She is indeed very capable. It is said that her family is not well-off, and she is a very hardworking child who wants to get into a good university and win scholarships.

Therefore, Asakawa Riku wouldn't use threats like "I'm going to tell the classmates" to force her to go easy on him; he simply wanted a proper competition.

Besides, it's already a blessing that they haven't been exposed for using a substitute player.

Class President Kato paused for a moment, then smiled: "Asakawa-kun is indeed a kind person. I don't know why, but seeing you after coming back this summer vacation made me feel very at ease... Maybe you really did save us back then, although none of us remember it very clearly. Ah, girlfriend, don't be angry, I was just saying it with emotion, I didn't mean anything else."

She also noticed that Shinonome Suetsuki had been silent all along, and quickly smoothed things over.

But Moyue just said "...Oh?" She neither confirmed nor denied it, and no one knew what was going on in her head.

When the atmosphere was about to become awkward, all Asakawa Riku could say was:

"Well then, let's get started. We still have challenges to come, or it'll get dark soon."

"...Haha, you're quite confident. But unfortunately, Asakawa-san and Dongfeng-san, your challenge may have to end here."

Squad Leader Kato stood up with a smile, adjusting her glasses with her fingers, the lenses seeming to flash with a sharp light.

"Because—the pass rate for this challenge is still 0% so far."

...

Squad Leader Kato led them to a meeting room on the side.

This room is about half the size of a classroom. She explained that it is a very important room for the student council, where many important meetings and decisions are made. It is designed to resemble the meeting rooms of the school principal and teachers, and features soundproofing. It is all custom-made and must have cost a lot of money.

At this point, the tables and chairs used for the meeting had all been moved aside, leaving a space deliberately empty in the middle. Only one chair stood out conspicuously in the center.

It's hard not to care.

"Are you going to play musical chairs? I have a big butt, you know, none of you can beat me."

"...Miss Dongfeng, please, please watch your word choice!"

It seemed like it was Kato's first time meeting this guy, and he stammered, completely terrified.

"Ignore her, she's just talking nonsense. Please explain the rules."