Insert your honest reactions about the name of the chapter here lol.

"Man is the only animal that makes bargain; no dog exchanges bones with another." -Classroom of the Elite Episode 3.

□●Bonds and Betrayals○□

As soon as I and Chiaki-san got back to our 'camp', Sudou already laid himself into his tent, to sleep.

But then there was him, who was peacefully leaning against the tree, with closed eyes, but he was fully aware that we were approaching the camp.

"You two took some time. I wonder what the topic was that held you off. If you need advice, I wouldn't help that much to be honest."

I think he knows. But still, he tricked us into thinking that he didn't know. The more I waste time thinking about him, the more I begin to notice his insanely manipulative nature.

"A-Ah, nothing. I will go to sleep, good night Kiyotaka, Alisa."

"Night. Sweet dreams, Matsushita."

It somehow annoyed me that he told her that, but somehow, he made it sound terrifying.

She slowly approached the tents and gave me a worried look, but somehow, I thought there was nothing to be worried about.

Kiyotaka usually calms down pretty quickly, once he even loses his composure, and that never happens. Except maybe today?

As Chiaki went into her tent and closed it, there were only the two of us.

And the atmosphere, at around 11 p.m. in the pitch dark, with the closest person being Sudou inside his tent who was ten meters away, sent me a chill down my spine.

It wasn't completely dark, I could see the moonshine reflecting in his brown-golden eyes, and the water was also reflecting it a little. And my GPS watch told me, that there was nobody except these two around.

"Alya."

As he suddenly called me by my nickname, my whole body froze, and my brain wanted me to scream

"W-W-What?"

"Why so tensed? It's night, and why stay awake?"

My heart beating as fast as a Formula One engine revs, calmed then finally down, as he didn't sound annoyed anymore and continued like nothing ever happened.

"A-Ah, well forget it. Good night."

"Also, before you go to sleep, I want to let you know that there is no need to act weird around me. I know exactly why you were away and what you are thinking right now. If you have a problem, spit it out."

Just as I walked the first meter, my knees felt insanely weak, my head started to hurt and I couldn't do anything else than sit down on the rock right next to where I was standing.

What he just said...Help me, I should have never approached him in my entire life. There is no way he would know...

My body sat down on that rock, I was holding my forehead with my left hand since it started aching brutally. My heart was racing and I seriously didn't know when I should start and scream for help.

Or why I didn't already.

"How..."

"Sudou went to sleep a lot earlier than I thought, so I was curious. I don't think it's necessarily bad for you to think that. Or for Matsushita to think that. I don't think it's a bad decision."

"...You..."

"Don't worry about it. I know I did some  stupid things by trying to get...violent, and I know you won't ever forgive me for that, but I apologize."

I really won't forgive him for that, and that scary experience will accompany me until my grave.

But, my sister taught me...

"I will forgive. But I won't forget it for the time being. Also...I have a lot of questions."

"I am glad you did. What is the thing that is stuck in your mind?"

He leaned on the tree, located next to the rock where I was sitting. It sent me even more chills down my spine, and I am seriously about to pass out due to my body overheating and my heart constantly racing from anxiety.

"Kiyotaka. What do you think of the conversation I had with Chiaki-san earlier? You heard it, right? The whole conversation."

"I heard 90% of it, let's say that. And well, you want me to be honest right? I guess it angered me a lot. But the longer your conversation got, the more interesting I found it, and the more curious I got. I came to slowly understand the way of thoughts you two were having about me, and I understood that you had a perfect reason to think that."

He said, his usually kind and calm voice was there again, creating a lot of peace, but some conflicts in my mind.

Also, was he always this handsome? Casually, my eyes went up to his eyes and the moonshine did serious wonders.

His appearance is a lot better when it's dark. His facial expressions and his eye color are perfectly matching the darkness and...

I...I!

I think...I think...

I-I am...

In...

Love this guy!

"Alya, I also want to talk about something, that we talked about earlier...and when the whole conflict even started. About the talk which I had with sensei."

"...The expulsion stuff right?"

"I think, you deserve a lot more information regarding that topic, as the leader of my class. You probably got to know every single detail of the deal right?"

"I do. But the problem is that I have no idea why you should have done that. I fail to understand the way of thought you had during that time."

He was doing a lot of good to me. He brought the development, that I had as an individual, forward during that day.

I began to become a lot more aware of my surroundings, and I began to eavesdrop a lot more on different kinds of conversations, in the hope to attain even more crucial pieces of information.

"Let me explain that. I hope you will somehow understand that, and well, it surely won't take long. I hope you can still stay awake during that."

"I sure will!"

"Great. During my last year of middle school, I had a whole different mindset. But hear me out. Back then, I thought of people like you as nothing. I was a bit different when I was still completely unaware of how dangerous it was to think such."

Kiyotaka slowly began to explain something, which I always wanted to know.

"People were nothing to me, and slowly, I started to learn a lot more, Mako, also called Amikura from Class B and Yuki helped me out quite a lot."

That's...why they became friends huh?

"Due to my sister's doing, she found a lot of great friends for me and taught me many things about people like you. I admit that I am still terrible at handling women."

"No...I think you are doing great. You are misunderstood on that surely."

Forgetting what happened today, he never treated me harshly, or any other girl. He always stayed kind to me.

I guess I didn't appreciate it back then huh?

"With that, I began to grow a lot more attached to my sister and started working a lot on myself. Abandoning the old mindset of 'it is what it is'. Well, it seems like that also brought me to the assumption, a little sacrifice would be the same thing my sister would have done."

"So you did that...Because you thought it was the right thing to do?"

"Yes. That's normal for me who was taught that. And also, regarding the problem of me having no record, let's say, you will find out about it one day or another."

It still left a lot of questions open. But it answered a lot of them.

"Of course, I think you are still confused, but I think you will begin to understand what this conversation was all about later on."

I also think it will take a lot of time until I eventually understand the purpose of having this conversation.

But if it's regarding him, I think I am on the path of finding out a lot more about him.

"Kiyotaka...I-"

"No need. You wanted to apologize right?"

I was always surprised by how precise he was in predicting things. Just like now, he has pinpoint accuracy.

After all, he works a lot on precision.

And precision is key, for a lot of situations, such as these.

His explanation was vague, but I think he will build up something on it, and this will be the fundament of it.

"Precise as always, Kiyotaka. Aren't you tired?"

"A little. I thought that explaining would be a lot more important right now. Solving a lot of issues."

"Ara~ You forgot that sleeping would also solve the issue of tiredness~ Pathetic~"

"Then I wish you a good night, Alya-"

"You seriously want to sleep outside in this cold?"

It wasn't freezingly cold at all. It was just a colder night. I would guess that a night has around 23°C on this island, but my smartwatch revealed that it was a little windy and it will probably rain tonight, lowering the temperature to barely 13°C.

"Maybe. I think it would be refreshing."

"Rain certainly would refresh you~ But let's sleep inside the tent since I don't want you to get ill this early~"

Surely it was because I wanted him to stay healthy~ Hehe...

No seriously, this played a huge role as well. But mostly, it was just because I was a little worried about him, who knows what the night holds?

Rain would certainly lead to missed sleep, and illness as well, and also, it would be important to start with dry clothes on the first official day.

"I guess I can't fight that argumentation. But there is one rule inside the tent."

"That is?"

"If you decide to steal my blanket, I will surely make sure to let you sleep outside instead of me tomorrow."

"T-That is surely a joke right?

"..."

"Right?!"

"Anyways. Just as you said, I am about to fall asleep standing."

We walked to our tents, and well, apparently Chiaki is terrible at fake sleeping.

Who on earth exhales that loud while sleeping?

And woah, he had no chill in falling asleep. Placing our backpacks inside as well, he didn't even bother to close it or place a blanket over his body, he just laid himself down and closed his eyes.

"(At least close the tent... Or make yourself more comfy~)"

Somehow, this guy is incredibly dangerous, yet incredibly cute as well.

It felt just so weird but I guess I can't survive this night without 'unintentionally' cuddling with him.

I turned off the last source of light, my flashlight, and with that, it was now sleeping time ~

And to be honest. I wanted to apologize with a little hug earlier. But damn. If I were a guy I would certainly say: 'I didn't have the balls for that'

But I am an elegant lady, which means, I didn't think of stepping down my level to give that worthless being a hug.

Cough Cough

Yeah no. I just was anxious about his reaction. That's all.

I put his blanket over him, and woah, he was insanely good at knowing his part of the tent. He wasn't moving at all and wasn't occupying too much space.

Well, he couldn't do so either way since this tent was big enough.

He is really cute when he wants to sleep. But also a little dull.

"(Kiyotaka. The panorama roof is a lot better than I expected.~)" The stars are perfectly visible.

And well, this was one of the first times I saw a galaxy in the sky, or, that's what I assume it is.

The island exam is probably the first thing in my life, that made me realize how different life conditions can change the relationships between humans.

Back then, I could have never thought that I would sleep inside a tent, together with a guy who's this handsome.

And today, that exact thing is happening.

As the panoramic roof was in the middle of the tent roof, he moved a lot closer to me. His empty eyes reflected in the tiny bit of light, and our faces were barely five centimeters away.

"(Shall I be honest with you? I have never really watched the Nightsky.)"

This surprised me a little. Usually, I thought that everybody would have done that at least once. But apparently, my assumptions were falsified once again, due to the same reason as always.

Kiyotaka's words.

"(I rarely pay attention to it, but well, it's much more visible on a dark island.)"

"(Alya, can I ask you something outrageously stupid?)"

"(Go on~)"

"(What is the difference between a girlfriend and a girlfriend?)"

Huh?

"(...What? You mean when you write girlfriend without a space or with?)"

"(...Yeah, you could put it that way. I always asked myself what the actual difference is besides using the space key on one and not using it on the other.)"

I seriously expected everything but this.  Does he still not know the difference with his 15 years of age? Well, shouldn't I be glad about that fact?

I mean, it's great that he is that innocent. Even more for girls who are in love with him.

I can't deny it any more right? I think that I grew to love him after three months of seeing him almost daily.

And currently, we were like glued together.

"(Well, a girlfriend, the one with space in between, is a regular friend. But she is a female. There is no actual love interest between you two.

However, the girlfriend, the one with no space in between, is the next and probably the hardest step in the relationship between boy and girl. A girlfriend is someone, who grew to love you unconditionally.

Unlike a friend, she is your partner, who you love back.)"

A long pause between my explanation and his next words where made. He had a confused look on his face and well, I am insanely curious about what is going on inside his head.

"(...Unconditionally)"

"(Yes, a good girlfriend and friend will stay on your side no matter your conditions. That means unconditionally.)"

"(...So you are on my side unconditionally?)"

Judging by his confused tone, there was something unpredictable coming ahead.

"(Y-Yeah...)"

"(...So technically you are my girlfriend without the space in between? I didn't know that-)"

"W-What?!?!"

What in the name of humanity did he think about earlier during that long pause?!

I mean, I wouldn't mind! But please use your superbrain once! How does that supercomputer work when you saved Yamauchi from expulsion but this simple explanation is where you drew the border?!?!

"(Huh? Did I say something stupid?)"

"(No- I mean yes!)"

"(Ah, I guess then only friends huh? I think I will take back the non-sense-)"

"(Kiyotaka...Please don't assume that any girl in this school could be your girlfriend. Okay?)"

"(Okay...?)"

Does this mean I claimed him for eternity?

"(Also...Since we already arrived on that topic)"

Okay... Alisa calm down now.

You had these feelings for three months now.

Inhale, Exhale.

Calm down.

Three,

Two,

One,

Go.

"(I think...I reached the point where I fell in love with you, Kiyotaka. I... love you. Can you be my boyfriend?)"

"(...)"

I don't know what his face looks like right now since I turned mine to the other side of the tent.

Honestly, I think that realistically the chance of a rejection is close to zero.

We spent a lot...No. A huge amount of time together. He helped me out every single time when I needed him.

And he supported me. Even though he was mad at me tonight, he decided to eventually make up with me for what happened.

Our friendship was insanely close, but yet, I never confirmed being a friend of his until today. Officially, our friendship barely started.

And it will end again.

To be honest, I love him. My sister will be excited once I get to introduce him to her.

Or the other way around with Yuki and Kiyotaka.

I am looking forward to it-

"(Sorry, but I don't think it's the right decision if I accept that. I think it was great just right now.)"

"(...)"

Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou, the ice queen of my middle school, got rejected by a boy... just like that.

And I am Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou. And I got rejected.

And I ruined our friendship. No.

I want to die right now.

"(I appreciate it. I do, don't think wrong of me, Alya-)"

Before he could destroy me, I decided to just stop his words from entering my ears.

"(It's fine. Don't worry about it Kiyotaka, I am fine with that. If you ever rethink your decision, my confession will always be open to accept for you. Even in two years. I had high hopes and was highly reminded of reality. I only wanted to let you know how I felt the past...f-few...m-months! I-)"

As I muttered the last few words, I couldn't help but start to cry.

Is this how humiliation feels like? Out of all people, he was the one I was so confident, maybe even about marrying.

A-And!

I just really couldn't bear it anymore.

My shaky voice finally collapsed into sobbing and tears, as he patted my head and embraced me

"(Alya I-)"

"(Don't...I-If you rethought your decision out of pity...Please don't...It would make it even worse...)"

Even though I was wetting his shirt, this was one, or probably the worst night of my life. Also one of the best.

Three months of hiding my feelings are finally history. And I will never have to think about it again.

"(Alya, listen-)"

"(N-No! I don't wanna hear it anymore!)"

Just like the pathetic child I still am, my heart immediately blocked all routes of contact.

Finally, he moved my entire face to look him into his eyes.

"(I haven't rejected you because I didn't feel the same way. It is just a conflict inside of me, I want to, but the disappointment you will feel after I accept your confession will overshadow this one.)"

As of now, my brain isn't able to comprehend anything of what happened today. It felt like a nightmare.

The boy who I grew to love the past months...Rejected me in, for me, the worst way possible.

'I think things are great right now.'

He said that just after I ruined everything once again. How should he be able to look me in my pathetic eyes one day?

"(Give me some time to think about it, if  I never mention this again, please think of this as my final answer.)"

And with that...he gave me huge mountains of hope.

But what he gave me, was false hope. I guess, that... That he likes another girl more. Perhaps Kikyou-san or Horikita-san.

Or maybe Ichinose-san, Amikura-san, or Haruka-san, since all of these girls were a lot closer to him than I was.

Only I believed that I was close to him. We weren't that close after all, and are drifting away slowly but surely.

♡♤Bonds and Betrayals♧◇

Kiyotaka POV; Next morning:

Yesterday night was pretty weird. Alya didn't leave my hug once the entire night.

And as I was bored during the morning hours, I just got up and decided to do my morning routine.

This island made my sleep a lot better and helped me forward. I rejected Alya yesterday, I admit. Once we get back from this special exam, I will be the most hated student in the school by far.

After all, who has the balls to reject a beauty like her?

Beauty...

Her usually beautiful face was covered in tears yesterday night, all the way until she finally drifted off into sleep.

And well, it felt quite nice, that we finally went through that problematic topic as well.

Never did 04:58 a.m. felt so nice to me. The tree I was currently using to do some pull-ups, really will remain in my brain forever

This tree was used to lean myself on, as I started that conversation with Alya yesterday. And well, this conversation was burnt into my eyes and brain.

Alya surely won't recover from that for the whole being. But, I will of course try and fix it later on, even if it takes spreading a lie about my feelings, and agreeing to that