The Calm Before the Storm

Early Tuesday morning, Hanyu Xiuyi was jolted awake by a sudden, urgent knocking at the door.

He glanced at the time—it was 6:20 a.m. There was usually only one person who would come looking for him at this hour.

He opened the door, and sure enough, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga stood outside, holding a can of coffee. His expression was as impassive as ever, but Hanyu noticed that his gaze was sharper than usual.

"Something happened?"

"Not yet." Ayanokoji walked into the room. "But it will soon."

He sat down in a chair and took a sip of his coffee. Hanyu closed the door, sat down opposite him, and waited for him to continue.

"Last night, Ryuen met with Ibuki Mio," Ayanokoji said. "Behind the Old School Building."

Hanyu's gaze sharpened. "How do you know?"

"I've been keeping watch," Ayanokoji said calmly. "Ryuen's routine has changed lately. He's started meeting with Class C students at night more often, each time with a different person. Last night, it was Ibuki's turn."

"What did they talk about?"

"I don't know." Ayanokoji shook his head. "They were too far away. I couldn't hear. But the look on Ibuki's face when she left..." He paused. "It was complicated."

"Complicated?"

"Not angry, frightened, or excited." Ayanokoji recalled. "More like... conflicted. As if she were making an important decision."

Hanyu thought it over. Ibuki Mio, the cold girl who was always by Ryuen's side—what kind of decision could she be making? Whether to keep following Ryuen, or...

"What do you think she's hesitating over?"

"Two possibilities." Ayanokoji held up two fingers. "First, Ryuen gave her a task she couldn't refuse. Second, she's considering betraying him."

Hanyu's heart stirred. If the second possibility was true, then he had his chance.

"Is there a way to confirm it?"

"Yes," Ayanokoji said. "Class C has Physical Education Class this afternoon. Ibuki will go alone to the storage shed behind the Gymnasium to get some equipment. That's the only chance to approach her alone."

Hanyu looked at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "You even know that?"

Ayanokoji took a sip of coffee and didn't answer.

At three that afternoon, Hanyu Xiuyi arrived at the storage shed behind the Gymnasium right on time.

It was secluded, with tall trees all around, making it a suitable place for a private conversation. He leaned against the wall, pretending to be waiting for someone.

Five minutes later, a figure appeared at the end of the path. It was Ibuki Mio. She was wearing a tracksuit, her short hair slightly damp with sweat, and she held a notebook in one hand. When she saw Hanyu, she paused, but quickly composed herself.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she walked over, her tone cold.

"Waiting for you." Hanyu got straight to the point.

Ibuki stopped and looked at him. "Why?"

"I want to ask you something," Hanyu said. "What did Ryuen say to you last night?"

Ibuki's expression changed. Her eyes instantly sharpened, like a beast that had been provoked.

"How do you know about last night?"

"I have my sources," Hanyu said calmly. "Just like you have your choices."

Ibuki stared at him for a long while, then suddenly laughed. It was a cold smile, but Hanyu noticed a hint of bitterness in it.

"Hanyu Xiuyi, you're really dangerous," she said. "More dangerous than Ryuen."

"Flattery will get you nowhere."

"But you were right." Ibuki leaned against the wall. "Ryuen did meet with me last night. He gave me a task."

"What task?"

Ibuki was silent for a few seconds before answering. "To keep an eye on Karuizawa Kei. Report her movements to him at all times. If anything seems unusual, tell him immediately."

Hanyu sneered inwardly. As expected, Ryuen still didn't trust Ike and was planning to use Ibuki as a second line of defense.

"Did you agree?"

"Did I have any other choice?" Ibuki countered. "He's the leader of Class C, and I'm just an ordinary student."

"You do." Hanyu looked her in the eye. "You can choose not to help him. Or pretend to help him."

Ibuki's eyes flickered. "Pretend to help him?"

"Just like Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki," Hanyu said. "They're 'helping' Ryuen, too. But in reality, they're helping me."

Ibuki fell silent. She lowered her head, lost in thought.

After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice much quieter than before. "You know, Hanyu Xiuyi? I really used to believe Ryuen could lead Class C to victory. He's strong, resourceful, and unafraid to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. I thought that if I followed him, I could become stronger."

She lifted her head and gazed at the distant sky. "But later, I realized he was just using me. Using everyone. In his eyes, we're nothing but pawns to be discarded once he's done with us."

"So you're disappointed in him?"

Ibuki didn't answer directly. Instead, she said, "Do you know what he said yesterday when he told me to keep an eye on Karuizawa? He said, 'That girl was bullied in middle school. If we get our hands on that weakness, we can make her do anything.'"

Disgust colored her voice. "Using someone else's scars to hurt them—I can't do that."

Hanyu looked at her, seeing her in a new light. Ibuki Mio seemed cold and heartless, but deep down, she had lines she wouldn't cross.

"So, are you willing to help me?" he asked.

Ibuki turned to look at him. "Help you do what?"

"Keep watching Karuizawa," Hanyu said. "But tell me what you find out, too. That way, you can keep Ryuen satisfied without actually hurting Karuizawa."

Ibuki thought it over. "What if Ryuen finds out...?"

"He won't," Hanyu said. "As long as we don't slip up."

Ibuki stared at him for a long while, then asked, "Hanyu Xiuyi, why do you work so hard to protect the people in Class D? For points? For victory? Or for something else?"

Hanyu thought for a moment, then answered honestly. "At first, maybe it was just to prove myself. But now..." He paused. "Because they're my classmates. Because at this school, we can only survive by standing together. Because I don't want to treat people like pawns the way Ryuen does."

Ibuki was silent for a long time. The wind stirred the leaves, making them rustle.

At last, she held out her hand.

"Fine. I'll help you."

Hanyu took her hand. It was cold, but her grip was firm.

That evening, Hanyu Xiuyi called an Emergency Meeting of the Core Members. This time, they met in Horikita Suzune's dorm room—her roommate had gone home for the weekend, leaving the room empty.

Those attending were Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yousuke, Kushida Kikyo, Yukimura Teruhiko, Ken Sudō, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, and Karuizawa Kei. Chiaki Matsushita was absent due to other business. Hasebe Haruka and Sotomura Hideo still hadn't been informed—not because they were untrusted, but because the meeting's subject was too sensitive.

"Ibuki Mio has joined us," Hanyu began.

Everyone was stunned.

"Ibuki Mio? The one from Class C?" Ken Sudō's eyes widened. "Wasn't she Ryuen's lackey?"

"She was." Hanyu briefly recounted his conversation with Ibuki that afternoon.

After hearing him out, Horikita Suzune was the first to speak. "Do you trust her?"

"Not completely," Hanyu said. "But there's at least one thing about her that makes her worthy of our trust—she has principles. She doesn't want to use other people's scars to hurt them."

"That's true..." Kushida Kikyo said thoughtfully. "I noticed that during the island exam, too. Ibuki may seem cold, but she never goes too far."

Karuizawa Kei had been silent the whole time. At this, she raised her head and looked at Hanyu. "Hanyu, she... really won't tell Ryuen about me?"

"She'll tell Ryuen," Hanyu said. "But only what you want her to tell him. Things like photos of you going about your normal life, or news of you hanging out with friends. She'll tell us about anything truly important first."

Karuizawa thought it over, then nodded. "I trust you."

Hirata Yousuke smiled warmly. "That's great. With Ibuki on our side, we'll be able to keep track of what's happening in Class C."

"It's not just about keeping track of them." Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses. "If we can get information about Ryuen's Notebook from Ibuki, we can bring him down for good."

"His notebook?" Sudō asked.

Hanyu explained Ryuen's notebook. After hearing about it, everyone's expressions turned serious.

"If we can get our hands on that notebook..." Horikita murmured.

"Then we'll have Ryuen by the throat," Ayanokoji added. "It contains not only the weaknesses of Class C students, but also a list of people he's bribed, and possibly information about other classes, too."

"But how do we get it?" Kushida asked. "Doesn't Ryuen carry it around?"

"That's why we need to create an opportunity," Hanyu said. "A chance that forces him to put the notebook down."

Everyone fell into thought. What could make someone as cautious as Ryuen put down the thing he valued most?

Ayanokoji suddenly spoke. "Next month's Sports Festival."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"The Sports Festival is an event for the entire year," Ayanokoji said. "It'll be chaotic that day, with every class busy with its own events. There are individual and team competitions, and as Class C's leader, Ryuen will have to participate in the team events."

Hanyu understood. "You mean, while he's competing in a team event..."

"Exactly." Ayanokoji nodded. "His notebook will have to be left somewhere. If we can find out exactly where, we can..."

He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

"But how do we find out where he puts the notebook?" Sudō asked.

"Ibuki," Hanyu said. "She's close to Ryuen, so she should know his habits."

"Then it's settled," Horikita said. "For the next two weeks, we'll work on strengthening our class while gathering information through Ibuki. The Sports Festival will be our chance to strike back."

Everyone nodded.

After the meeting ended, they left one after another. Karuizawa Kei was the last to go. As she reached the door, she looked back at Hanyu.

"Hanyu, thank you."

"For what?"

"For..." She paused. "Thank you for helping me realize I'm not alone."

She opened the door and disappeared into the hallway.

Hanyu watched the door close, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating the entire room. Tomorrow would be a new day.

And the real showdown still lay ahead.