Prelude to the Counterattack

On Monday morning, the atmosphere in Class D's classroom was vastly different from the usual.

When Karuizawa Kei walked into the classroom, several girls immediately surrounded her, chattering about their weekend fun. Her smile was as radiant as ever, but Hanyu Xiuyi noticed that it no longer carried the forced pretense and defensiveness of before. It was a genuine, relaxed smile.

"Good morning, Hanyu," Karuizawa whispered as she passed by him, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Hanyu nodded. "You seem much more energetic today."

"Yeah!" Karuizawa nodded vigorously, her ponytail swinging behind her. "Because I know someone's on my side."

She ran to her seat, leaving a light-footed back view behind.

Horikita Suzune walked up to Hanyu and said in a low voice, "She's recovered faster than I expected."

"Because she's always been stronger than we thought," Hanyu replied.

Horikita glanced at him but didn't argue.

The morning classes proceeded as usual. However, Hanyu noticed that Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki were exceptionally proactive today—not only were they listening attentively, but they also voluntarily answered questions. Chabashira Sae glanced at them a few times but said nothing.

During the lunch break, just as Hanyu took out his bento, his phone vibrated. It was an email from Ayanokoji Kiyonaga:

"Rooftop. Situation. --Ayanokoji"

Hanyu put away his bento and quickly walked towards the rooftop.

On the rooftop, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga was leaning against the railing, holding a can of coffee. Standing beside him was another person—Ike Kanji.

"Hanyu!" Upon seeing Hanyu, Ike immediately stepped forward, his expression tense. "Ryuen's making a move!"

"What kind of move?"

Ike took a deep breath and said, "Ryuen found me again yesterday afternoon. He said the last plan failed and told me not to approach you anymore, but to keep an eye on someone else instead."

"Who?"

"Karuizawa Kei."

Hanyu's eyes sharpened. As expected, Ryuen's next target was Karuizawa.

"What else did he say?"

Ike recalled, "He said to pay attention to who Karuizawa gets close to and what she usually does. He also said..." He hesitated, "He also said if I could get some 'dirt' on Karuizawa, he'd give me 500,000 points."

"'Dirt'?" Hanyu frowned. "What kind of dirt?"

"I don't know..." Ike shook his head. "But he mentioned things like 'past secrets.' It's like he knows something."

Ayanokoji spoke, "Ryuen must have already grasped some of Karuizawa's past. But he's not using it directly; instead, he's having Ike gather more information. This indicates..."

"It means he doesn't have enough leverage yet," Hanyu interjected. "He needs more 'evidence' to completely control Karuizawa."

"Right," Ayanokoji nodded. "And by having Ike do this, he's testing Ike's loyalty. If Ike actually does it, it proves Ike is still his man. If Ike doesn't..." He paused. "Ike will become the next target."

Ike's face turned pale. "Then what should I do? If I don't do it, he'll definitely suspect me!"

Hanyu thought for a few seconds, then said, "Do it."

"What?" Ike's eyes widened.

"Pretend to do it," Hanyu said. "Take some unimportant pictures for him. Like photos of Karuizawa eating with everyone, or her paying attention in class. Even if those get out, they won't have any impact."

Ike understood. "You mean, use fake information to keep him stable?"

"Right," Hanyu nodded. "But at the same time, we need to collect information on him. Do you know where Ryuen hides that 'evidence'?"

Ike thought for a moment. "He has a notebook that he carries with him. I saw it once by accident, it's full of things—information on students from all classes, their weaknesses, and a list of people he bribed..."

"A notebook..." Hanyu looked at Ayanokoji. "What do you think?"

Ayanokoji took a sip of coffee and said plainly, "If we can get that notebook, we'll have Ryuen's lifeline."

"But how do we get it?" Ike looked distressed. "He never lets the notebook out of his sight, he even takes it to the toilet."

"Then let's make him hand it over voluntarily," Ayanokoji said.

Hanyu and Ike both looked at him.

Ayanokoji put down his coffee can and slowly said, "Ryuen's personality is such that the more important something is, the closer he keeps it. But precisely because of that, as long as we create a situation that forces him to be distracted..."

He didn't finish, but Hanyu already understood.

"Lure the snake out of its hole," Hanyu said. "Create a big enough incident to make Ryuen unable to focus on the notebook."

"Right," Ayanokoji nodded. "But the incident can't be too fake, it has to be something that genuinely makes him tense."

Hanyu fell into thought. To make Ryuen tense, you had to hit him where it hurt. What was Ryuen's weak spot?

Class C.

What Ryuen cared about most was Class C's status and his control over it. If Class C could be made to waver internally...

He looked at Ike. "In Class C, is there anyone who's unhappy with Ryuen?"

Ike thought for a moment. "Yes. Ibuki Mio. She's the girl who's always around Ryuen. I heard her complaining to someone, saying Ryuen is too arbitrary and doesn't listen to anyone's opinions."

Ibuki Mio—that short-haired girl with the gloomy eyes. Hanyu remembered her. On the island, she always stood behind Ryuen, her expression cold, almost silent.

"What's her relationship with Ryuen?"

"Not entirely clear," Ike said. "But one time I saw her quarreling with Ryuen. Although their voices were low, it was clear she was very angry."

"Okay," Hanyu said. "Ike, you continue to pretend to help Ryuen with his work. If anything new comes up, tell me immediately."

Ike nodded and left the rooftop.

Hanyu and Ayanokoji remained in place, gazing at the distant campus.

"Do you think Ibuki Mio can be a breakthrough?" Hanyu asked.

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Any dissatisfaction is a breakthrough. The key is how to use it."

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Let her see Ryuen's failures," Ayanokoji said. "If Ryuen's plans fail continuously, her evaluation of Ryuen in her heart will decrease. By then, as long as someone gives her a 'better choice'..."

He didn't finish, but Hanyu already understood.

"Who do you think this 'better choice' is?"

Ayanokoji glanced at him but said nothing.

But that look had already indicated everything.

After school that afternoon, Hanyu Xiuyi "accidentally encountered" an unexpected person at the entrance of the Teaching Building—Ibuki Mio.

She was walking alone, her short hair somewhat messy in the wind, her expression still that indifferent look. Seeing Hanyu, her steps paused for a moment, but she quickly resumed her normal pace, continuing to walk as if nothing had happened.

"Classmate Ibuki," Hanyu called out to her.

Ibuki stopped and looked back at him, her eyes wary. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing major," Hanyu said, walking over and standing beside her. "I just wanted to ask you a question."

"What question?"

"Do you think Ryuen Sho is worth following?"

Ibuki's expression changed. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly returned to her indifferent look. "That's none of your business."

"It's true that it's none of my business," Hanyu said. "I'm just curious. On the island, you had the opportunity to capture Sakura Airi, but you didn't act. At the cliff's edge, you could have stopped us from saving them, but you just stood by and watched."

Ibuki fell silent.

"You're not the type of person who is willing to do anything for Ryuen," Hanyu continued. "You have your own bottom line. Why would someone like you keep following him?"

Ibuki stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled. The smile was cold, but also very real.

"You're quite observant, Hanyu Xiuyi."

"You flatter me."

Ibuki dropped her smile, her expression turning serious. "I follow Ryuen not because I admire him, nor because I fear him. It's simply because, in this school, only the strong survive. And Ryuen, at least, is strong."

"What if one day, he's no longer strong?"

Ibuki froze for a moment.

Hanyu didn't wait for her answer and turned to leave. After a few steps, he looked back and said, "Classmate Ibuki, if that day comes, remember to come find me. Class D's doors are always open."

He left, leaving Ibuki standing alone, her expression complex.

In the evening, Hanyu Xiuyi was organizing the information he'd gathered today in his dormitory. His mobile phone vibrated; it was an email from Karuizawa Kei:

"Hanyu, some people from Class C were monitoring me today. But I did as you said, pretended not to notice, and continued my normal life. They took a few photographs of me eating with friends. There shouldn't be any problem. -- Kei"

Hanyu replied, "You've worked hard. Keep it up. Remember, the more normal you act, the more anxious they'll become."

"Understood! By the way, Kushida said she wants to organize a girls' gathering and invited me. Can I go?"

"Go ahead. Being with everyone more often is actually safer."

"Okay! Thank you, Hanyu!"

Putting down his phone, Hanyu looked out the window. The campus under the night sky was quiet and deep, but he knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

Ryuen was making his move, and he was too.

This was an unseen war, and victory depended on who could first grasp the other's vital point.

And he already had a plan.

A plan to make Ryuen pay.