The Storm of the New Semester

Sakayanagi Arisu's words were like ice cubes thrown into a lake, the instant chill dropping the temperature of the entire classroom by several degrees.

The applause that had supported Katsuragi's proposal came to an abrupt halt, the enthusiastic smiles on the students' faces freezing in place.

Most students had never experienced such a blunt and sharp public rebuttal, especially on the first day of school, an occasion meant to be filled with harmony and anticipation.

Katsuragi Kouhei's sturdy frame remained standing straight as a statue.

The expression on his face showed no drastic change, but his eyes grew deeper. He could feel the gaze of the entire class fixed on the space between him and Sakayanagi.

Kazehara Tetsu leaned back in his chair, his folded arms not relaxing in the slightest.

A faint curve hung at the corner of his mouth, like a spectator who had discovered a drama, watching everything with keen interest.

"I can't fully agree with your point, classmate. We are indeed Class A, but the school's rules haven't been fully explained by Majima-sensei. 'The school provides everything, points can buy everything'—behind such seemingly generous conditions, there must be hidden competition. If we don't even know each other's names or basic situations, how can we talk about unity to face any future challenges?"

Katsuragi Kouhei finally spoke, his voice steady and forceful, unshaken by the other's mockery.

His words carried weight, his logic clear, quickly securing him the moral high ground.

He didn't directly attack Sakayanagi's rudeness but elevated the issue to the level of "class survival."

This speech made many of the wavering students show expressions of agreement again.

"Hehe..."

Sakayanagi Arisu let out a light laugh, covering her mouth with her slender, fair hand that wasn't holding her cane. "Katsuragi, your speech is truly full of leadership flair. It sounds like a motivational address from a hot-blooded youth manga, delivered by the protagonist before the final battle. Very touching, but also very naive."

She lowered her hand, her smile still sweet, but her words grew colder.

"So-called unity, if built on the fragile foundation of mediocre people huddling together for warmth, is nothing more than a rabble's revelry. Far from being able to withstand trials, it will instantly crumble in the face of real crisis due to internal suspicion and incompetence."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the full court, that line of sight seeming to carry a penetrating force that made every student who met her eyes instinctively look away.

"What I seek is not this kind of false collectivism. It is absolute functionalism, led by true 'powerhouses,' with others performing their duties and obeying orders. In this system, the personal talents and interests of mediocrities are meaningless. They only need to play their roles—that is, chess pieces—and that's enough. So, I'll say it again: self-introductions are a complete waste of time."

"Chess pieces..."

"She called us chess pieces?"

Low, indignant murmurs rose in the classroom.

Katsuragi Kouhei's brow finally furrowed tightly.

Sakayanagi's words had undoubtedly classified him and the vast majority of the class as "mediocrities."

"Sakayanagi, your elitist thinking is far too extreme."

A hint of severity crept into Katsuragi Kouhei's voice. "Everyone has value. It's not only top-tier talents who deserve to have names. Your approach will only divide the class and create unnecessary internal opposition."

"I actually think she's right! This... Katsuragi."

Kazehara Tetsu stood up, looking at Katsuragi Kouhei on the platform, pretending not to know his name as he glanced at the nameplate.

"This isn't opposition; it's 'screening.' Recognizing one's place from the start benefits everyone. Knowing whether you're the dominator or the dominated saves a lot of unnecessary trouble."

At these words, the atmosphere in the classroom grew even more tense.

Katsuragi Kouhei's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Kazehara. "Kazehara, are you supporting Sakayanagi's extreme views? The school brought us together hoping we'd progress together, not to be ranked into tiers and suspicious of each other."

Kazehara Tetsu remained standing. Instead of immediately answering Katsuragi, he shifted his gaze away from him and casually turned toward the girl not far away.

"Sakayanagi, right?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. "Your choice of words is very precise: 'chess pieces.' A good chess player doesn't need to know the life stories and hobbies of every piece, only their respective functions. If a 'pawn' tries to move like a 'rook,' then it's not a qualified piece—it's a useless piece that needs to be cleared from the board."

The air in the classroom seemed to freeze.

If Sakayanagi's remarks were about dividing the class, then Kazehara Tetsu's words were like pouring salt on an already open wound.

For the first time, genuine, deep interest flickered in Sakayanagi Arisu's violet-colored eyes.

She looked at Kazehara Tetsu like she had discovered a novel, unique toy.

"Kazehara, is it?" Her voice seemed to carry a hint of appreciation. "Your analogy is interesting. It seems not everyone in the class is a mediocre talent who needs constant guidance to face reality."

Katsuragi Kouhei watched Kazehara and Sakayanagi playing off each other, and the anger in his heart could no longer be contained. He took a deep breath, ready to retort again, when...

"Alright, I've just stated my opinion. What you all do next has nothing to do with me. See ya..."

Before Katsuragi Kouhei could counter, Kazehara Tetsu turned without hesitation and walked toward the door like a gust of wind.

When Kazehara Tetsu reached the seat beside Sakayanagi Arisu, his footsteps paused slightly.

This subtle movement caught Sakayanagi Arisu's attention, and her eyes met Kazehara's.

"You're interesting. I like it..."

With that, Kazehara Tetsu didn't linger and soon disappeared through the classroom door.

Kazehara Tetsu's departure caused a brief stagnation in the classroom atmosphere.

The argument was temporarily interrupted by his exit, and the students looked at each other, unsure how to proceed.

Katsuragi Kouhei's expression was grim; he was clearly very dissatisfied with Kazehara's sudden departure.

But he still managed to restrain his emotions, taking a deep breath to suppress his anger.

He turned his gaze back to Sakayanagi Arisu, as if wanting to continue the debate.

"Sorry, I'm not feeling well. I'll take my leave first."

Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curled upward as she rose, leaning on her cane, not giving Katsuragi Kouhei a chance to speak.

She knew it was nearly impossible to convince Katsuragi Kouhei through rhetoric alone, so it was better to let him understand the true gap through actions later.