Opportunity and First Contact

The calm campus life was shattered once again, this time by Sudo Ken. During basketball club training, he had a fierce clash with Kinoshita Masayoshi from Class C. According to the rumors that spread, Kinoshita used dirty tricks during the practice match and insulted Class D with words, pushing Sudo past his limit until he threw a punch. The result of the conflict was both of them ended up injured, and the matter escalated to their homeroom teachers and the gym teacher.

When the news reached Class D, it immediately exploded into chaos.

"That Sudo guy, causing trouble again!"

"It must have been Class C who started it!"

"This is bad, will it affect our class evaluation?"

Hirata Yousuke immediately tried to understand the situation and wanted to mediate, but Teacher Chabashira calmly stopped him, saying the school would handle it. Kushida Kikyo worked hard to soothe the classmates' emotions, her face full of "worry," while inside she rapidly analyzed the possible impact of this incident and how to use it to maintain her image as a "caring classmate."

When Fūki Ran heard the news, his eyes shifted slightly. This conflict seemed like the result of Sudo's impulsiveness, but happening just as rumors of a Special Exam were growing tense, it felt a bit too coincidental. He thought of Ryūen Kakeru's face, full of mockery and malice. Could this be a probe from Class C? Testing Class D's cohesion, or rather, its level of chaos?

He immediately realized this was an opportunity. A perfect chance to break the deadlock and formally make contact with Horikita Suzune.

He didn't seek out Hirata, nor did he join the class discussion. Instead, he locked onto the Library. Sure enough, at her usual seat by the window, he found Horikita Suzune, immersed in a sea of books as if the outside world's turmoil had nothing to do with her.

Fūki didn't take a nearby seat as usual. He walked straight to the seat across from her, pulled out the chair, and sat down.

This action clearly disturbed Horikita. She looked up with displeasure, her Purple Eyes glinting with cold sharpness, obviously unhappy with Fūki's "rude" behavior. On a normal day, she might have coldly scolded him or simply left.

But today, before she could speak, Fūki spoke first, his voice steady and clear, ensuring only the two of them could hear:

"Horikita, regarding the conflict between Sudo and Class C, I believe this is more than just a simple fight. It's very likely a premeditated provocation aimed at Class D, probably connected to the upcoming Special Exam."

Horikita's motion to close her book and stand up paused. She furrowed her brow slightly, looking at Fūki, the displeasure in her eyes replaced by a faint trace of scrutiny. She didn't speak, but her silence itself meant she was listening.

Fūki continued his analysis, speaking at a measured pace with clear logic: "First, the timing of the conflict is suspicious. Second, from the bits of information I've gathered, Kinoshita Masayoshi isn't a core member of Class C, but his actions precisely targeted what would provoke Sudo—one of the most unstable and impulsive factors in our class. If this is a coincidence, it's too much of one."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice: "I suspect Ryūen Kakeru is pulling the strings behind this. He's testing us—testing how our class reacts to external pressure, whether we're united enough, or... whether we're easy enough to break apart from within. Sudo's impulsiveness just gave him the answer he wanted."

Horikita's brow furrowed even tighter. She wasn't completely indifferent to class affairs, but she disdained participating in what she considered inefficient and foolish discussions. Yet Fūki's analysis now stepped beyond simple right and wrong, pointing directly to the possible strategies and conspiracies behind the incident, which matched her rational way of thinking.

"...Even so," Horikita finally spoke, her voice still cold, "what does this have to do with me? School rules will deal with the violators. As for whether the class is provoked or united, that's something Hirata and Kushida need to worry about." She tried to maintain her isolated stance.

"Rules will deal with the violators, that's true. But the outcome will affect the class evaluation, which in turn affects the resources each of us can obtain." Fūki met her eyes directly, pointing out the most crucial stake. "More importantly, if Class D gets labeled as 'easily provoked' or 'internally unstable' because of this incident, then in the upcoming Special Exam, we'll likely become the primary target for other classes. At that point, no matter how outstanding an individual's ability is, being in a group that's both targeted and chaotic inside—do you think you can stay out of trouble? You should remember Teacher Chabashira's words."

"Meritocracy," but in this system, an individual's strength sometimes can't be completely separated from the collective environment.

Horikita fell silent. Fūki's words were like a needle, precisely piercing the fact she had been trying to ignore—she couldn't completely cut herself off from Class D. The class evaluation would affect her points, the resources she could enjoy, and even her goal of reaching Class A. And in collective events like the Special Exam, individual power would be amplified or limited by the group's situation.

Her fingers on the book page tightened slightly. Fūki could see the struggle within her—reason telling her his analysis was correct, while her long-standing habits and pride resisted the option of "cooperation."

"You're saying all this," Horikita raised her eyes, looking sharply at Fūki, "what do you want me to do? Go comfort Sudo? Or join Hirata and the others in shouting 'unity'?" Her tone carried obvious sarcasm.

"No." Fūki shook his head. "Others will handle those things. What I hope is that we can share information, and based on that, make independent judgments, and at critical moments, take actions that best serve our own interests."

He proposed a very pragmatic, almost cold-blooded model of "cooperation"—no emotions involved, no demand for her to change her behavior, just information exchange and strategic coordination based on rational analysis and mutual benefit.

"Share information?" Horikita caught that phrase.

"For example, my understanding of Ryūen Kakeru and Class C's modus operandi, as well as some... speculations about the school's rules." Fūki said frankly. "And you, Horikita, have outstanding observation and analytical skills. You might notice details I overlook. We each act independently, but when necessary, we can exchange intelligence to avoid being deceived or to seize possible opportunities."

This proposal maximally preserved Horikita's independence while providing her with the perspective and information beyond the class's surface conflicts that she needed. It wasn't like Hirata's "unity" with its moral pressure, nor like Kushida's "friendliness" with its hypocrisy.

Horikita fell into a longer silence. She looked at this boy who remained calm, as if everything was under control, and for the first time, she seriously began to weigh the pros and cons of establishing some connection with him.

"I need to think about it." In the end, she didn't agree immediately, but she also didn't refuse outright as she usually would. That alone was a huge step forward.

"Of course." Fūki stood up, as if the conversation had been nothing more than a casual remark. "Before you make a decision, if you find anything, feel free to come to me."

He gave a slight nod, turned, and left without any further entanglement.

Horikita watched his figure disappear through the library door, her gaze lingering for a long time. Fūki Ran... he was deeper and more... dangerous than she had imagined. But the "cooperation" he proposed carried a cold allure that was hard to simply refuse.

She lowered her head again, looking at the words on the page, but found it hard to concentrate. Fūki's words were like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirring ripples in her heart. Independent judgment, shared information, interest-driven action... these terms didn't seem entirely in conflict with her long-held belief in "growing stronger alone." In fact, they might even be a supplement?

For the first time, Horikita Suzune began to seriously consider whether, besides climbing alone, there might be other paths to the summit. And Fūki Ran, this mysterious man, had cast a heavy shadow at the starting point of that potential path.