On Friday night, the campus was so quiet that all you could hear was the rustling of leaves in the wind. The lights in the dormitory buildings went out one by one as the students gradually drifted off to sleep.
But some people were destined to lie awake.
Girls Dormitory, Third Floor. Kushida Kikyo's Room.
She sat at her desk, an open diary in front of her, but she hadn't written a single word. She twirled a pen between her fingers, gazing out at the moon as her thoughts drifted far away.
Hanyu hadn't let her attend the meeting that afternoon. She understood—after all, she'd only just returned, and rebuilding trust would take time. But being left out still stung.
"I deserve it," she whispered to herself.
Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was an anonymous message:
"Tomorrow at three in the afternoon. Old Place. New Mission. —C"
It was from Ryuen. Kushida stared at the screen, her fingers trembling slightly. Even though she'd decided to pretend she was still helping him, fear still welled up when she had to face him for real.
She took a deep breath and replied, "Got it."
She put her phone away and continued gazing out the window. The moon was full, its light spilling over the campus. Everything looked so peaceful and serene. But she knew the calm was only an illusion. Beneath the surface, the currents were surging.
"Can I do this?" she asked herself. "Can I fool Ryuen?"
There was no answer.
But a voice spoke inside her: You have to. You owe them.
She closed her diary, switched off the desk lamp, and lay down. As she closed her eyes, scenes flickered through her mind—Hirata's gentle smile, Karuizawa's trusting gaze, Hanyu's calm, resolute eyes.
And Ryuen's chilling smile.
She turned over and buried her face in her pillow.
That night, she barely slept.
At the same time, in Ryuen Sho's Room, on the Third Floor of the boys' dormitory.
He hadn't turned on the lights. He simply sat by the window, gazing at the campus beneath the moon. The room was dark, the moonlight merely outlining his figure.
His phone lit up. It was Ibuki Mio's reply: "Got it."
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a dangerous smile.
Everything was going according to plan. He'd set a New Mission for Kushida, and Ibuki was getting ready, too. Those idiots in Class D probably still thought victory was assured.
"Hanyu Xiuyi..." he murmured, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "You're clever, but not clever enough. You think buying off the people around me will make you win?"
He stood up, walked to his desk, and opened the notebook he never let out of his sight. It was densely filled with information—key players in every class, everyone's weaknesses, and every opportunity he could exploit.
He turned to the latest page, where several names were written:
Kushida Kikyo (D)—useful, contact established
Ibuki Mio (C)—under observation, usable but requires caution
Karuizawa Kei (D)—weakness clear, not the right time yet
Horikita Suzune (D)—difficult, avoid for now
Ayanokoji Kiyonaga (D)—?
He'd circled the question mark beside the last name.
Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. He'd always been a mystery on Ryuen's list. He seemed utterly unremarkable, yet whenever he showed up at a crucial moment, he always managed to walk away unscathed. Ayanokoji seemed to cast a shadow over all of Hanyu's actions.
"Who are you, really?" Ryuen murmured.
There was no answer. But he knew that everything would be revealed on the day of the Sports Festival.
He closed the notebook and sat back down by the window. Moonlight fell across his face. The face that usually wore a dangerous smile was now unusually calm.
"The game has only just begun," he said to the moonlight.
In Ayanokoji Kiyonaga's Room, on the Second Floor of the boys' dormitory.
He hadn't turned on the lights or sat by the window. He simply lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Moonlight seeped through a gap in the curtains, casting a faint glow across it.
His phone vibrated. It was an email from Ibuki Mio:
"Ryuen asked to meet me tomorrow. He probably has a New Mission. —Ibuki"
He read it without replying, then set his phone aside.
Ryuen was finally about to make his move. He'd make sure every piece was in place for his final play Before the Sports Festival. Kushida, Ibuki, and other pieces he didn't know about.
But what Ryuen didn't know was that Ayanokoji had been watching every move he made.
"Interesting," Ayanokoji murmured, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The smile was faint, almost impossible to see. But if anyone had seen it, they would have been surprised—because it was the first genuine smile Ayanokoji Kiyonaga had ever shown.
He turned over and closed his eyes.
A lot would happen tomorrow.
But he was ready.
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny.
Hanyu Xiuyi woke up at seven. He washed up, got dressed, and was about to go out for breakfast when his phone vibrated.
It was an email from Kushida:
"Ryuen asked to meet me at three this afternoon. He has a New Mission. I'll try to get some information out of him. —Kushida"
Hanyu stared at the screen for a few seconds, then replied, "Be careful. Your safety comes first."
He put down his phone and stood by the window, gazing out at the campus. The grounds were quiet on the weekend, with only a few early risers jogging on the Sports Field.
Ryuen was finally about to make his move. He'd give everything he had for his final play Before the Sports Festival.
"Come on," Hanyu whispered. "I'm waiting."
He turned and headed out, beginning a new day.
At ten to three that afternoon, Kushida Kikyo appeared behind the Old School Building.
The place was secluded, surrounded by thick trees. Few people came here, even during the day. She stood at the agreed-upon spot, clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding.
At three on the dot, Ryuen appeared.
He'd come alone, without any followers. He wore casual clothes and had his trademark dangerous smile on his face.
"Right on time, Kushida," he said as he walked up to her. "I like punctual people."
Kushida did her best to look calm. "What's the mission?"
Ryuen smiled. "Don't rush. First, tell me—has anything been going on in Class D lately?"
Kushida gave him the cover story she'd prepared, telling him a few irrelevant things: Karuizawa had organized a get-together for the girls, Sudo was leading team practice, and Hanyu often went to the rooftop alone. It was all true, but it was only what showed on the surface.
Ryuen listened, looking thoughtful. "Hanyu still goes to the rooftop alone?"
"Yes. Almost every day during lunch break."
"What does he do there?"
"I don't know." Kushida shook her head. "I couldn't follow him."
Ryuen nodded, seeming to accept her explanation. Then he took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Here's your New Mission."
Kushida took the paper. There was only one line on it:
On the day of the Sports Festival, find a way to make a Key Player from Class D take this before their event.
A small packet of pills was stuck beneath the note.
Kushida's heart sank. Was he asking her to... drug them?
"What is this?"
"Just sleeping pills," Ryuen said. "They'll make them drowsy. It won't affect the competition, but they'll definitely get poor results. Don't worry, it won't hurt them."
Just sleeping pills? Kushida didn't believe him. But she couldn't let it show.
"Why are you asking me to do this? I'm only supposed to gather information."
"Because you're the best person for the job," Ryuen said with a smile. "Everyone likes you, and you can get close to anyone without raising suspicion. Besides..." He paused. "You've already boarded my ship. Do you think you can get off now?"
It was an outright threat. Kushida gritted her teeth and put the packet in her pocket.
"Understood."
Ryuen nodded, satisfied. "Good. Once it's done, I'll send the rest of the money to your account. And..." He stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Don't forget, I have something on you. So don't try anything."
Kushida's body trembled slightly, but she still nodded.
Ryuen turned and left, disappearing into the woods.
Kushida stood alone where she was. It took her a long time to recover. She looked down at the packet in her pocket, her hands trembling.
"Sleeping pills..." she murmured. "Are they really just sleeping pills?"
She didn't know. But she knew she had to tell Hanyu.
She took out her phone and was about to send a message when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.
She spun around. Someone was walking out of the woods—
It was Ibuki Mio.
The two stared at each other, both stunned.
"You..." Kushida watched her warily.
Ibuki's expression remained cold, but a complicated emotion flickered in her eyes.
"Don't be nervous," she said. "I came to meet Ryuen, too."
Kushida's heart beat faster. "You, too..."
"Yeah." Ibuki walked up to her and lowered her voice. "I'm one of his people, too. But..." She paused. "Now I'm one of yours."
Kushida froze.
Ibuki looked at her and suddenly smiled. It was a faint smile, but a genuine one.
"Didn't Hanyu tell you? I've been his 'spy' for a long time."
Kushida's mind was in turmoil. Hanyu hadn't told her, perhaps because he didn't trust her, or perhaps the time hadn't been right. Either way, she now knew she wasn't alone.
"What mission did Ryuen give you?" Ibuki asked.
Kushida showed her the packet. Ibuki took one look at it, and her expression turned serious.
"This..."
"What is it?"
Ibuki didn't answer. She only said, "Go back and tell Hanyu. He'll understand."
She turned to leave, then glanced back. "Kushida, remember—whatever happens, the people on our side won't abandon you."
With that, she disappeared into the woods.
Kushida stood where she was, holding the packet. Tears suddenly streamed down her face.
Not from fear, but from being moved.
So she really wasn't alone.
At seven that evening, in Hanyu Xiuyi's dorm room.
Kushida sat in a chair with the packet of pills in front of her. Hanyu sat across from her, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga leaned against the window, and Horikita Suzune stood by the door.
All four of them stared at the packet.
"Ryuen said they're just sleeping pills," Kushida said. "But I don't believe him."
Ayanokoji walked over, picked up the packet, smelled it, and examined it carefully. Then he said something that left everyone silent.
"These aren't sleeping pills."
"Then what are they?"
Ayanokoji looked at Hanyu. "They need to be tested. But judging by the color and texture, they're probably stimulants."
Stimulants! Everyone's expression changed. If a Key Player from Class D were caught taking stimulants before the competition, the consequences could be disastrous—not only could their results be disqualified, they might even be expelled.
"Ryuen's trying to destroy us," Horikita said coldly.
Hanyu was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Kushida, you did well. Thank you for bringing this back."
Kushida shook her head. "I didn't do anything..."
"You did the most important thing," Hanyu said. "You chose to trust us."
Kushida's eyes reddened again.
Hanyu stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the campus in the night.
"Ryuen wants to play, so we'll play along," he said. "But this time, we'll make him pay."
He turned to look at everyone in the room.
"On the day of the Sports Festival, we'll put on a show. We'll let Ryuen think his plan has worked, then make him suffer the consequences at the last moment."
Horikita nodded. "We need a detailed plan."
"I can handle swapping out the pills," Ayanokoji said.
Kushida hesitated, then said, "I can keep cooperating with him and pretend to drug them."
Hanyu looked at her. "Are you sure?"
Kushida took a deep breath, then nodded firmly.
"I'm sure. Because this time, I'm not fighting alone."
Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating all four of their faces. Determination shone in every pair of eyes.
Outside, the night was deep.
But dawn was coming.
Before you continue