003 Exiting the classroom and closing the door behind me, I took a step forward, when I heard a voice at my back. “What were you discussing with Hanekawa?” I turned to face it. As I did, I had yet to grasp who it was─the voice was unfamiliar. But I’d heard it somewhere before. Yes, that reedy “I don’t know” that she uttered like some catchphrase whenever a teacher called on her during class─ “Don’t move.” With her second line, I realized that I was dealing with Senjogahara. I also realized that the moment I turned, Senjogahara, as if aiming through a narrow gap, had stuck a box cutter, blade amply extended, right into my oral cavity. The blade of a box cutter. Pressed snugly against the inside of my left cheek. “…ck!” “Actually, no. I should have said, ‘You can move, but it would be very risky.’” Neither held back, nor in a rough manner, but with just the right amount of strength─the blade stretched the flesh of my cheek.