“Morning!”

Aihara Yura arrived at school earlier than usual and immediately scanned the classroom.

Neither Isshiki Shizuku nor Houjou Noa was there.

After confirming that, she went straight toward the seats by the hallway.

“Minaki-san! You were amazing yesterday!”

“Huh? Ah—?”

Minaki Suzu, who had been resting her chin sleepily on one hand, lifted her face in confusion.

“To stand up to Houjou-san like that, I was so moved!”

“O-oh.”

While Yura leaned forward eagerly, Suzu instinctively leaned back a little.

“I was shocked too,” Kamonari Nene added from the side.

“Right? It was amazing.”

“You really gave me courage.”

“I was so frustrated, just letting her talk down to me like that…”

Yura grasped Suzu’s hand and leaned in close.

“Thank you. You made me realize that all we have to do is prove her wrong.”

“…I see. Then I’m glad.”

Suzu gave a weary smile, then averted her face in embarrassment.

Her unpretentious attitude made Yura smile warmly.

“I’ll do my best not to drag everyone down!”

Nene puffed up her cheeks and declared her resolve with a firm “Hmph!”

In response, Suzu muttered quietly:

“You shouldn’t take her words too seriously. That was just an excuse.”

“Huh?”

“She just needed a reason to push people out. Once some leave, the proportion of Houjou’s followers in the class increases. She probably still has some strong ones waiting in higher classes too—so she can seal things off soon.”

“Oh…”

The logic had never crossed Yura’s mind before. Her excitement quickly cooled.

“There are eight spots left,” Suzu continued flatly. “With those, Houjou Noa would have twenty-three out of forty-six. Exactly half. Checkmate.”

She paused, then added:

“Even if she doesn’t force anyone out, others might start drifting toward her. Just being Houjou’s eldest daughter means the adults’ power dynamics will inevitably favor her. With fifteen of her people already inside, it might already be too late.”

“T-that can’t be!”

Yura and Nene exchanged uneasy glances. If that happened, those without any backing would surely be the first to be cast aside.

“…Well, either way, it’s not something we need to worry about.”

“Wh-why not?”

Suzu’s expression was utterly bored.

“Because in a school—a children’s world—chances to actually use adult power dynamics are rare.”

“…Really?”

“She can control the class administration, sure. But that’s about it.”

Class administration.

Yura thought carefully about what that meant.

Decisions about events, maybe? If so, getting the majority didn’t hold much value after all.

“Let her run things if she wants. It’s not like you two want to be in charge, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“See? Majority, minority—all that’s just women’s logic within a women’s society.”

Women’s logic.

Suzu kept giving her answers from perspectives Yura had never even considered.

“From what I can tell, Toudou Mizuki doesn’t choose girls based on that kind of thing.”

“…Yeah. I get that feeling too.”

“Right?”

So far, Mizuki had gotten along with everyone in the class.

He never treated anyone differently because of their family status or influence.

“In the end, it’s just a meaningless turf war among girls. Let them keep their throne.”

At those words, Nene leaned forward excitedly.

“A-amazing! Minaki-san, you’re actually really smart!”

“…Did you just say ‘actually’?”

Yura couldn’t help but laugh. She felt like she could get along with these classmates.

And as she looked at the small-framed Minaki Suzu before her, she sensed a kind of detached maturity in her.

“Minaki-san… if you stepped forward more, I think lots of people would follow you.”

She was sure of it.

After standing up to Houjou Noa, Suzu had earned a certain respect from the class.

With Isshiki Shizuku still silent, if a third faction formed, many would rally to it.

But Suzu simply shook her head.

“I’m not interested in doing anything big. I couldn’t care less.”

Then, lowering her voice:

“The one we should really watch out for… is Isshiki.”

“Really?”

To Yura, Isshiki Shizuku was simply someone who greeted her politely.

Unlike Houjou Noa, she had never flaunted her family’s power.

“…Well, in the end, what matters is whether Toudou Mizuki chooses you. It’s best not to get too caught up in the logic of the women’s world.”

The logic of the women’s world.

Yura thought deeply about the meaning of those words—

And then, suddenly, she realized something.

Wasn’t it Houjou Noa herself who was most bound by that same logic?

◇◆◇

“What is control?”

Houjou Noa was dreaming.

The voice of her stern mother echoed in her memory, strangely nostalgic.

“Control means giving benefits to those within.”

She had heard this countless times during her education as heir to the Houjou household.

As a child, she hadn’t understood its meaning.

“And it also means taking from those outside.”

“There are two parts?”

“Combine the two. Take from outside, give within. The permanence of this cycle of distribution—that is what people call control.”

Houjou Noa was born as the first child of the Houjou family.

From that moment, her future was almost completely set.

To organize the daughters of the retainers, inherit the Houjou title, gain eligibility to enter the ruling class, become a first-class citizen, oversee the Kanto region, and pass that order to the next generation—

That was the purpose of Houjou Noa’s existence.

“Noa, what can you give to us?”

“Eh…”

“You are destined to inherit this household. To give something to others, you must be willing to take something from someone else.”

“…”

“The simplest way is to create new boundaries. Rewards for those who show loyalty, punishment for those who show hostility. Once you start distributing those, the structure of control naturally forms. Try it within the Houjou family—you’ll find it easy to eliminate your sisters if you wish.”

She remembered those words clearly.

Repeated over and over until they became instinct.

That was what shaped the Houjou Noa of today.

“These boundaries have long been refined into systems by our predecessors. For example, the ruling class system. There’s a clear divide between ruling class members and non-members, and the latter have no path to promotion. That’s why people raise their productivity scores, maintain ideological purity, and willingly devote themselves to labor or Seikadan (清華団) activities.”

“…”

Now she understood.

Control was also about providing seats—creating positions people would compete for.

That was what the rational, orderly society had taught her.

“To desire control of one’s own accord—that is the essence of control.”

“…”

“Start by using the girls around you. Learn well and strive hard. One who cannot control people cannot bear the Houjou name.”

Those words had been repeated throughout her upbringing.

To control people—that was what made Houjou Noa worthy of inheriting the family name.

Nothing else was ever expected of her.

“…Noa-sama.”

The whisper at her ear woke her up.
She looked around and realized she was in Shinonome Yukari’s dorm room.

Next to her, Yukari stirred sleepily and nuzzled close.

“You’re so cute in the morning.”

Noa gently stroked her head.

It was just a habit—most girls brightened instantly with just those words, looking at her with adoration.

She rose from bed and went to the sink.

In the mirror, a neutral, androgynous face looked back.

It was an image she had carefully crafted.

Women desired men—and being truly male wasn’t necessary.

Noa studied her emotionless face closely, ensuring it was flawless, then began styling her hair.

“Noa-samaaa.”

By the time she finished getting ready, Yukari was awake.

“You’re such a spoiled girl. Come here, I’ll brush your hair.”

As she combed through Yukari’s soft hair, the girl closed her eyes in bliss.

Noa knew perfectly well what acts made women fall for their partners.

“Come on, let’s go.”

After getting dressed, they left the dorm.

Lining the streets were brick buildings from the Taisho era.

Noa loved the scenery around Shirayuki Academy—

far better than rows of uniform, sterile apartment blocks.

“It’s a bit chilly this morning.”

“Ah…”

Noa wrapped an arm around Yukari’s shoulders, whispering.

“Yukari, don’t turn around. We’re being followed.”

“…”

“Ethics inspectors.”

“In the car?”

“Yes.”

They were moving faster than she’d expected.

The inspectors must have found the Class K situation suspicious after receiving a report.

Noa chuckled.

“I’d bet anything that the informant is Nanase—the one left behind in Class A.”

Ordinarily, no one would dare involve the Ethics Bureau.

Whoever reported it had to be someone connected to the ruling class.

“Oh my, it’s warm here,” Noa murmured.

“N-Noa-sama!”

As she casually caressed Yukari’s rear, Noa’s mind was already turning.

Best to let them misunderstand for as long as possible.

Nanase Hikari could waste her energy chasing shadows.

How should she play this game? Noa smiled faintly, amused.

Houjou Noa, eldest daughter of the Houjou family—educated from childhood under strict heir training, raised to master the nature of control.

To Noa, the world still consisted only of the other Eighteen Houses.