Silent Protection

On Tuesday morning, the sky was pale with the first light of dawn, and dew still clung to the leaves outside the dormitory windows. Fūki Ran got up half an hour earlier than usual. He carefully reviewed the information he had organized the night before, then slipped a chart of his classmates' daily routines into his backpack. Today, he had decided to keep a closer eye on Sakura Eri.

When he arrived in the classroom, he was surprised to find Sakura already at her desk. Head bowed, her long pink hair hanging on either side of her face, she was absorbed in a plainly covered novel. She sat more stiffly than usual, her shoulders slightly hunched, as though she were trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.

"Good morning, Sakura." Fūki took the empty seat in front of her as naturally as could be, his tone as casual as if he were exchanging the most ordinary of morning greetings.

Sakura jerked her head up like a startled bird, nearly dropping the book in her hands. "G-good morning, Fūki..." Her voice was barely audible, and a flicker of alarm crossed her eyes.

"What have you been reading lately?" Fūki recognized the novel in her hands: Norwegian Wood by Murakami Haruki. "I really like this one, especially how it portrays loneliness."

Sakura's eyes brightened slightly, as if she'd found someone who understood her. "R-really? I think the loneliness in Murakami's writing is special, too. It isn't sadness, but a kind of... peaceful loneliness."

As they chatted, Kushida Kikyo glided into the classroom. Seeing them talking, she immediately understood and joined in, wearing an appropriately delighted expression. "Are you talking about literature? What a coincidence—I love Murakami Haruki, too."

The easy rapport gradually put Sakura at ease. She quietly shared her interpretation of the characters' inner lives, and now and then, a faint smile appeared when she found someone who understood her. Fūki noticed that when she talked about something she was genuinely interested in, her timid expression slowly disappeared, replaced by a radiance that came from within.

During the break after first period, Fūki noticed two Class C girls loitering outside the classroom. They pretended to chat, but their eyes kept drifting toward Sakura. He immediately gave Kushida, who was discussing the novel with Sakura, a meaningful look.

Kushida caught on and smiled at Sakura. "By the way, Sakura, could you come to the restroom with me? I wanted to ask what you think about next week's class activity."

Sakura nodded and followed Kushida out of the classroom. As they passed the door, Kushida deliberately raised her voice. "Let's go talk to Karuizawa later. She seems to have some great ideas for the class activity."

The remark was clearly meant for the Class C girls. Watching them walk off in disappointment, Fūki knew their makeshift protective net was beginning to work. But he also understood that this was only a temporary solution.

At lunchtime, the three met as planned on a bench behind the School Building. A few lush cherry trees surrounded the spot, making it relatively secluded. Horikita Suzune was already waiting there, holding a detailed record of her observations.

"I've been systematically tracking Class C's movements over the past few days," Horikita began. Her voice was as calm as ever. "They seem to be systematically gathering information on every student in our class. It's not just Sudo and Sakura. They've been keeping an eye on students who usually go unnoticed, too. Yesterday, for example, I saw Ibuki from Class C approach Shinohara. They talked for nearly ten minutes."

"That's Ryuen's usual approach." Fūki glanced over Horikita's notes as he analyzed the situation. "He likes to gather enough information first, build a file on everyone, then go after the weakest links. We have to assume that he already knows quite a bit about every student in Class D—their personalities, relationships, and even their private lives."

Kushida nervously twisted her fingers. "Then what should we do? We can't watch every classmate every second. And if we make it too obvious, Ryuen might realize we've uncovered his plan."

"We don't need to protect everyone," Fūki said calmly. "But we can set up an early-warning system. For instance, if someone has an unusual interaction, they'll know who to turn to for help. The key is to keep the whole class alert without causing panic."

Horikita nodded thoughtfully. "Hirata might be able to help. He has a lot of influence in the class, and everyone trusts him. If he reminds them to be careful with their personal information, it shouldn't arouse too much suspicion."

"But we need to be careful," Fūki warned, his gaze sharpening. "We can't let Hirata get directly involved in a confrontation with Ryuen. His reputation is too spotless, which makes him an obvious target. Ryuen is best at smearing people who stand up for what's right."

Just then, they noticed Ken Sudō walking alone toward the gym. To their surprise, he seemed much more relaxed than he had over the past few days. He was even humming.

"Looks like Hirata's intervention worked," Horikita observed. "Hirata talked to Sudo yesterday. It seems to have gone well."

Still, Fūki's instincts told him things weren't that simple. Ryuen wouldn't give up so easily on a target he'd already singled out. He gestured for the others to continue their discussion, then quietly followed Sudo.

Inside the gym, several students from Class C were practicing basketball. To Fūki's surprise, Sudo didn't avoid them. Instead, he joined the practice of his own accord.

"Well, look who it is—the ace of Class D," one Class C student taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "You've got the nerve to come play? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble again?"

But instead of losing his temper as usual, Sudo smiled and dribbled the ball with practiced ease. "What, afraid I'll beat you?"

His reaction clearly caught the Class C students off guard. They exchanged puzzled looks, then began taunting him more openly.

"I heard Class D came in dead last on the average score for the midterms again. All you guys know how to do is play ball? You don't know how to study?"

"Being good at sports is useless. In the end, your grades are what matter."

Sudo faked out a defender with a slick move and scored an easy layup. Turning around, he replied calmly, "Our class is none of your concern. Why don't you spend that time working on your game instead?"

Watching from the shadows, Fūki realized that Sudo was learning to control his emotions. It was certainly a good sign, but it also meant Ryuen might resort to even more extreme measures. Fūki noticed a Class C student on the sidelines recording something on his phone, which made him wary.

After school that day, Fūki ran into Hirata Yousuke on the way back to the dormitory. To his surprise, Hirata called out to him, his expression unusually serious.

"Fūki, could we talk for a while?"

They went to sit on a bench in the courtyard. The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground. Hirata got straight to the point. "I know what you've been doing lately. You, Horikita, and Kushida."

Fūki didn't deny it. He knew Hirata had always been perceptive. "We're just trying to protect our classmates and keep them from getting hurt unnecessarily."

"I understand." Hirata nodded, concern in his eyes. "But you shouldn't have to handle this alone. As class representative, it's my responsibility to protect every student. If Ryuen really is targeting Class D, we should face him together."

"Precisely because you're the class representative," Fūki said earnestly, meeting Hirata's gaze, "you need to keep some distance. Ryuen's goal is clear: he wants to undermine Class D's unity. If you get directly involved in a conflict, you'll be walking right into his trap. Your strength lies in keeping the class running smoothly and serving as its emotional anchor."

Hirata fell silent for a moment, the setting sun casting complicated shadows across his face. At last, he sighed. "You're right. But remember, if you need help, I'm always here. Don't carry the whole burden by yourself."

That brief conversation gave Fūki a new perspective on Hirata. He wasn't just a gentle leader; he was also a friend willing to shoulder responsibility. But for that very reason, Fūki was even more reluctant to drag him into this undercurrent of conflict.

That evening, as Fūki sat in his dormitory sorting through his thoughts, an email from Horikita arrived:

"I watched Ryuen all day today. He seems to be planning something big and has been meeting people from different classes. Not just Class C—he's also met with people from Class B. Around three this afternoon, I saw him talking with Kanzaki from Class B in the courtyard behind the Library for about fifteen minutes. I couldn't hear what they discussed, but Kanzaki looked quite serious when he left."

Fūki replied at once: "Keep observing, but stay at a safe distance. Ryuen is very perceptive, so don't make him suspicious. Also, keep an eye on Class B, especially Kanzaki."

After putting down his phone, Fūki went to the window. Clouds partly veiled the moon, leaving a hazy halo of light in the night sky. He knew the silent war was still underway, and Ryuen's network of connections was broader than he'd initially expected. If Class B was getting drawn in as well, the situation was becoming even more complicated.

Over the next three days, Class D seemed as peaceful as ever on the surface, but the quiet protection never stopped. Fūki, Horikita, and Kushida fell into an unspoken division of labor: Fūki analyzed Ryuen's movements and devised countermeasures, Horikita watched for anything unusual within the class and kept tabs on Sudo, while Kushida used her social network to gather information and protect Sakura.

Their makeshift alliance was far from perfect, but it was Class D's first line of defense against outside threats. Every day, they exchanged information at a set time and place and adjusted their strategy. Fūki began compiling a detailed threat assessment, listing every classmate Ryuen might target and noting the corresponding protective measures.

On Friday evening, when the three met at their usual spot, Kushida brought unsettling news. "I heard from a friend in Class B today that Ryuen has been asking about Ichinose. I don't know the specifics yet, but it means his targets might not be limited to Class D."

Fūki's gaze grew pensive. If Ryuen was expanding his targets to include leaders from other classes, then this undercurrent had already begun to develop into a storm that could reshape the entire year. They weren't just protecting Class D anymore; they were building a line of defense to preserve stability across the entire year.

Night fell, and the three went their separate ways. Fūki walked back to the dormitory alone, turning over the information he'd gathered over the past few days in his mind. Moonlight slipped through gaps in the clouds, casting mottled shadows across the path ahead. He knew the real test would come soon. Every preparation they made might prove crucial to the outcome.