Chapter Summaries

Fūki and Horikita investigated Ryuen’s suspected efforts to gather information and sow discord in Class D, identifying Ike, Yamauchi, Sudō, and Sakura as possible targets. They planned to protect the class while concealing their suspicions, and Horikita began reconsidering her distance from her classmates.

• Horikita and Fūki noticed Ike and Yamauchi whispering, and Kushida reported hearing Yamauchi threaten Class D after mentioning special arrangements with Class C.
• Fūki and Horikita chose not to follow Ike and Yamauchi, instead watching for other classmates whose behavior had changed.
• Fūki and Horikita’s observations suggested Ike and Yamauchi were gathering information, Sudō might have been threatened, and Sakura might be exploited through her sympathy.
• Fūki and Horikita planned to protect class information, help classmates being used, and wait for a chance to strike back without alerting Ryuen.
• Fūki explained that he believed Class D had untapped potential, and Horikita began considering whether she should take a closer look at the class.

Kushida told Feng Qi that Ryuen had paid Yamauchi to spread rumors about Hirata and Karuizawa, and Feng Qi decided they should let the rumors spread while secretly gathering evidence. Kushida left committed to the plan, while Feng Qi agreed to speak with Horikita about keeping watch on Sudo.

• Kushida visited Feng Qi and reported that she had overheard Ishizaki paying Yamauchi to spread rumors that Hirata favored Karuizawa.
• Kushida identified classmates who might believe or amplify the rumors and worried that confronting Yamauchi could expose her investigation.
• Feng Qi told Kushida to monitor the rumors and record who spread them, while acting unaware so Ryuen would think his plan was working.
• Kushida agreed to gather evidence in secret and told Feng Qi that she trusted his judgment.
• Feng Qi and Kushida discussed watching Sudo, and Feng Qi agreed to talk to Horikita about him.

Kushida Kikyo visited Feng Qi in distress over hiding her knowledge of the rumors and pretending to support those spreading them. After he comforted her, she regained her resolve and left knowing she could turn to him when she needed to be herself.

• Kushida Kikyo came to Feng Qi's room and broke down over having to conceal what she knew about the rumors and comfort Karuizawa.
• Kushida clung to Feng Qi and questioned whether wearing a mask to protect others meant she was losing herself.
• Feng Qi reassured Kushida that she still knew who she was and why she chose to hide her feelings.
• Kushida cried against Feng Qi's shoulder, then admitted she could be her real self in front of him.
• Kushida resolved to keep going and asked whether she could return to Feng Qi when she could no longer hold back her tears; he told her she could come anytime.

Kushida Kikyo confessed to Feng Qi that she had destroyed her middle-school class by exposing classmates’ secrets and now kept a notebook of Class D’s secrets to protect herself. Feng Qi reassured her that facing her past was the first step toward change, and Kushida left feeling lighter, considering what to do with the notebook.

• Kushida Kikyo visited Feng Qi and confessed that classmates had called her fake in middle school, prompting her to collect and expose their secrets.
• The leaked secrets shattered trust in Kushida’s class, and five students transferred before Kushida transferred as well.
• Kushida revealed that she still collected Class D’s secrets in a notebook as protection and asked Feng Qi whether she was awful and could change.
• Feng Qi told Kushida that she had learned to protect herself after being hurt and that facing her real self was the first step toward change.
• Kushida thanked Feng Qi, said she would consider what to do with the notebook, and left feeling lighter.

Feng Qi, Horikita, and Kushida coordinated their response to Ryuen’s suspected manipulation while Kushida began acting more authentically. They left the next move to Ryuen, as Kushida thanked Feng Qi for helping her take the first step toward being herself.

• Kushida greeted classmates with more measured warmth, then told Feng Qi and Horikita that Ike and Yamauchi had mentioned a possible Special Test and Ryuen’s offer to help them.
• Feng Qi suspected Ryuen was spreading a false rumor and asked Kushida to feed Ike misleading information while Horikita watched Sudo.
• Feng Qi met Sakura Eri in the Library, and she thanked him for helping her; he told her she could turn to him or Kushida if anyone bothered her again.
• Horikita reported that Sudo had rejected Class C’s approach, while Kushida said Ike seemed to believe the false information she had planted.
• Feng Qi and Kushida agreed not to tell Hirata about their plans, then Kushida emailed Feng Qi that she was glad to express her real thoughts.

Fūki and his classmates uncovered Ryuen’s attempt to pressure Sudō into sabotaging Class D’s basketball match, but Hirata intervened before the confrontation escalated. Afterward, Kushida warned that Ryuen was seeking a new target in Sakura Eri, leaving Fūki to plan how Class D could protect its students.

• During P.E., Fūki and Horikita noticed Ryuen watching Class D, while one of his lackeys approached Sudō after class.
• Fūki, Horikita, and Kushida learned that Sudō had fought Class C students and injured his hand, with Ishizaki among those involved.
• Fūki, Horikita, and Kushida followed Sudō to the Warehouse Area, where Ishizaki threatened to report him unless Class D lost its upcoming Basketball Practice Match.
• Hirata stepped between Sudō and Ishizaki, claimed Teacher Chabashira was looking for Ishizaki, and persuaded the Class C students to leave.
• Fūki began preparing a Class Defense Strategy, and Kushida warned him that Ryuen was asking about Sakura Eri.

Fūki Ran, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyo quietly worked to protect Class D from Ryuen’s information-gathering and pressure tactics. The chapter left Fūki concerned that Ryuen was expanding his plans beyond Class D, after learning he had approached Class B’s Kanzaki and was asking about Ichinose.

• Fūki Ran and Kushida Kikyo helped Sakura Eri feel at ease and diverted two Class C girls who had been watching her.
• Horikita Suzune reported that Class C was gathering information on students across Class D, so Fūki proposed an early-warning system and urged caution around Hirata Yousuke.
• Fūki followed Ken Sudō to the gym, where Sudō calmly resisted Class C students’ taunts while one of them recorded him on a phone.
• Hirata Yousuke offered to help protect the class, but Fūki advised him to avoid becoming a direct target in Ryuen’s conflict.
• Horikita reported that Ryuen had met with Kanzaki from Class B, and Kushida later heard that he was asking about Ichinose.
• Over the next three days, Fūki, Horikita, and Kushida maintained a quiet system to monitor threats and protect classmates.

Feng Qi learned that Sakura Eri had been secretly recording detailed observations of Class C and brought her information to a meeting with Horikita, Kushida, and Hirata. They began planning a cooperative intelligence network for Class D, while Ryuen continued watching from the Rooftop.

• Feng Qi noticed Ryuen's contacts were clustering around lunch and after-school club periods, while Horikita reported that Sudo had gone to the gym early and Hirata was keeping him company.
• Sakura Eri told Feng Qi she had recognized his efforts to protect her and showed him detailed sketches documenting Class C students' movements and behavior.
• Feng Qi shared Sakura Eri's intelligence with Horikita and Kushida, who agreed that her observational skills could help Class D.
• At a Library meeting, Feng Qi, Horikita, Kushida, and Hirata planned a small, carefully screened intelligence network, assigning Horikita to approach Sudo and Kushida to approach Sakura Eri.
• Feng Qi saw Ryuen standing alone on the School Building's Rooftop as the rain cleared, then recorded his thoughts about helping Class D students use their individual strengths.

Fūki Ran and his allies investigated Ryuen’s cross-class dealings and expanded their information network as the Monthly Evaluation Meeting approached. After Fūki saw Ishizaki receive a bundle of paper from a student leaving the faculty office building, he began mapping the connections behind the suspicious encounters.

• Fūki noticed Sakura’s sketch of Ryuen meeting a Class B student and recorded the discovery.
• Sakura secretly gave Fūki a sketch of Ishizaki exchanging an envelope with a Class A student from the Katsuragi Faction.
• At a meeting in the Sakura Grove, Sakura reported that Ishizaki had lingered outside the faculty office building, and the group planned to monitor him and move future meetings to the Old Library.
• Fūki saw Ike and Yamauchi stop whispering when he entered the classroom, which made him suspicious.
• Fūki watched Ishizaki receive a wad of paper from a bespectacled student leaving the faculty office building.
• Fūki organized the clues into a relationship chart in his dorm room, preparing for the approaching turmoil.

Feng Qi noticed Horikita Suzune growing anxious over Ryuen’s possible attack on Class D’s evaluation and found her alone on the rooftop. After Tachibana contacted her, Horikita left, and Feng Qi began monitoring the Student Council’s response while planning to support her.

• Feng Qi and Kushida Kikyo discussed how Ryuen might target Horikita’s efforts to maintain Class D’s balance.
• Horikita went to the Open-air Platform, and Feng Qi followed to check on her.
• Horikita admitted that she feared Ryuen’s pressure could affect Class D’s evaluation and make her brother think she was incapable.
• Horikita received a call from Tachibana Akane and hurried away from the platform.
• Feng Qi messaged Hirata and Kushida to watch for developments in the Class Evaluation and the Student Council meeting.