Cracks and Probes

Tuesday after school, Hanyu Xiuyi was in the Shogi Club clubroom reviewing last week's match with Ishida when his phone suddenly vibrated.

It was an email from Horikita Suzune: "Come to the library immediately. Found something important. —Horikita"

Hanyu closed his phone and said to Ishida, "Sorry, something urgent came up."

"Go ahead." Ishida waved his hand. "We'll continue another time."

Hanyu hurried to the library and found Horikita Suzune in a corner seminar room. She sat by the window, several documents spread before her, her expression even more serious than usual.

"What happened?"

Horikita looked up, her black hair catching a dull gleam in the sunset's afterglow. "Take a look at this."

She handed him a handwritten list. Hanyu scanned it quickly—it listed all the students in Class D, each name followed by various symbols and numbers.

"What is this?"

"Ike Kanji's handwriting," Horikita said. "This afternoon, he accidentally left this paper in the library. I happened to see it."

Hanyu's eyes settled on the symbols. Some names had circles drawn next to them, some had crosses, and others were marked with strange numbers.

"What do these symbols mean?"

"Preliminary analysis." Horikita pointed to several circled names. "You, me, Hirata, Kushida, Sudo, Yukimura, Ayanokoji... these are the class's core members. The crossed-out ones are those considered 'useless'—students with low presence or average grades."

"And the numbers?"

"Probably point evaluations," Horikita said. "Some numbers are close to the points we actually have."

Hanyu fell silent. This list clearly wasn't something Ike Kanji could have produced on his own—he lacked the ability and the information sources. Someone must be pulling the strings behind him.

"Ryuen," he said in a low voice.

"Ten to one," Horikita nodded. "But the question is, what does Ryuen want with this list?"

Hanyu thought quickly. A class member evaluation list was typically used to formulate strategies—to know who was valuable, who could be won over, and who was easily isolated.

"He wants to divide us," Hanyu said. "Find the weak links in the class, then break them one by one."

Horikita's expression darkened. "Do we need to take action?"

"Don't alert the enemy yet," Hanyu said. "Put the list back where it was. Let Ike think no one noticed. We need to see what Ryuen's next move is."

Horikita nodded and carefully folded the list.

"One more thing," she said. "I looked into Ike and Yamauchi's recent movements. They've been to the convenience store three times this week, and each time they 'accidentally ran into' someone from Class C. Yesterday afternoon, they talked with Ibuki Mio by the vending machine for nearly ten minutes."

"The content?"

"No idea." Horikita shook her head. "Too far away to hear clearly. But from their expressions, it wasn't ordinary small talk—Ike looked excited, while Yamauchi seemed a bit nervous."

"Excited? Why excited?"

"They might have been promised something," Horikita speculated. "Points, or something else."

Hanyu leaned back in his chair, gazing at the sunset outside the window. Ryuen's net was quietly tightening, and Ike and Yamauchi were the first pieces to be caught.

"Should we talk to Ike and the others?" Horikita asked.

"Not yet," Hanyu said. "If we expose them directly, they might defect to Class C out of shame. We need to leave them a way back."

"Then when do we wait until?"

"Until Ryuen reveals his true intentions," Hanyu said. "His target isn't Ike and Yamauchi—it's the entire Class D. As long as we can preserve the class's cohesion, his schemes won't succeed."

At seven in the evening, Hanyu Xiuyi called an emergency meeting of the core members. The venue was Hirata Yousuke's dormitory—more secluded than the library.

Those attending were: Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yousuke, Kushida Kikyo, Yukimura Teruhiko, Sudo Ken, and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. Matsushita Chiaki was absent due to other commitments, while Hasebe Haruka and Sotomura Hideo were not informed—not out of distrust, but because they weren't suited for a situation that required acting.

"So that's the situation." Hanyu recounted the matter of the list. "Ryuen is infiltrating our class. Ike and Yamauchi have already been contacted by him."

"Those two idiots!" Sudo Ken slammed his fist on the table. "I'll go settle scores with them!"

"Calm down, Sudo." Hirata held him back. "Violence won't solve anything."

"Then what do we do? Just watch them betray us?"

"They haven't betrayed us yet," Hanyu said. "They've only been contacted. The most important thing now is that we don't let the class split because of this."

Kushida Kikyo spoke up, her sweet voice carrying a hint of worry. "Hanyu, have you considered... why Ike and Yamauchi were chosen?"

"Because they're easily shaken." Yukimura pushed up his glasses. "Lack of their own opinions, desperate for approval, easily tempted by benefits. That's Ryuen's favorite type of target."

"That's not all," Ayanokoji Kiyonaga suddenly said.

Everyone looked at him. Ayanokoji still wore his usual expressionless face, his voice as flat as if discussing the weather.

"Ike and Yamauchi have another trait—they get along well with most people in the class. Ike is good at livening up the atmosphere, and while Yamauchi talks a lot, he has no real malice. If they're pushed completely to Class C, it would have a big impact on the class's atmosphere."

"You mean Ryuen chose them not just because they're easy to bribe, but because they have influence?" Horikita asked.

"Right." Ayanokoji nodded. "Destroying a class doesn't always require attacking the strongest. Starting from the edges and gradually isolating the core members is actually more effective."

This analysis left everyone silent. If Ryuen was really using this strategy, it would indeed be hard to guard against.

"Then what should we do?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu thought for a few seconds, then said, "Turn the tables."

"What do you mean?"

"Let Ike and Yamauchi think they've succeeded." Hanyu said. "Keep playing the part of being bought off, but secretly pass the information to us. That way we can grasp Ryuen's plan while also protecting them from being used."

"But..." Kushida hesitated, "Will they be willing to cooperate?"

"That's what we need to convince them of." Hanyu looked at Hirata. "Hirata, you're closest to Ike. Find a chance tomorrow to talk to him alone. Don't expose him, but make him understand—no matter what happens, the class will stand by him."

Hirata nodded. "I understand."

"Kushida, you're on good terms with Yamauchi." Hanyu continued. "The day after tomorrow, invite him out for a drink and feel him out. Same thing—don't expose him, just let him feel the warmth of the class."

Kushida flashed a sweet smile. "Leave it to me."

"Everyone else, act normal." Hanyu said. "Don't show anything unusual. We need Ryuen to think his plan is going smoothly."

After the meeting ended, everyone filed out one by one. When Ayanokoji Kiyonaga was the last to step out the door, he turned back to glance at Hanyu.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "No. But be careful—Ryuen isn't someone easy to fool. He definitely has a backup plan."

"I know." Hanyu said. "That's why we need you."

Ayanokoji looked at him for a moment, gave a slight nod, and then disappeared into the hallway.

Wednesday afternoon, Hirata Yousuke followed the plan and invited Ike Kanji to play basketball.

After a few rounds on the court, the two sat on the sidelines to rest. Hirata handed over a bottle of water and asked casually, "Ike, have you had something on your mind lately? You seem a bit down."

Ike froze for a moment, then waved his hand with a laugh. "No, no! I'm fine!"

"Is that so?" Hirata said gently. "That's good. But if anything comes up, feel free to talk to me anytime. We're friends, aren't we?"

A flicker of complexity crossed Ike's expression, but he quickly recovered his smile. "Of course! Thanks, Hirata!"

Hirata didn't press further. He just patted his shoulder, then stood up and said, "One more round?"

Ike watched Hirata's back, his eyes wavering. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, the words never came out.

At the same time, Kushida Kikyo also invited Yamauchi Haruki to the convenience store for a drink.

"Yamauchi, you've been studying really hard lately." Kushida said with a smile. "Got any goals?"

Yamauchi scratched his head. "Not really... just want to learn more stuff."

"That's great." Kushida rested her chin on her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. "But make sure to rest too. Everyone cares about you, so if you need any help, just say the word."

Yamauchi's face reddened slightly. "Th-thanks, Kushida..."

They chatted for half an hour, the atmosphere light the whole time. But when Kushida got up to leave, Yamauchi's expression turned complicated.

He sat alone on the convenience store chair, staring at the drink in his hand, muttering to himself, "What should I really do..."

Thursday morning, Hanyu Xiuyi found a note in his shoe locker.

No signature, just one line:

"Tomorrow at three, third floor of the old school building. I have something I want to tell you.—Ike Kanji"

Hanyu looked at the note, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The fish had finally taken the bait.