Nights of Hidden Agendas

On Friday night, the campus was so quiet that only the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard. Lights in the dormitories were extinguished one by one as students gradually drifted off to sleep.

But some people were destined to have a sleepless night.

On the third floor of the girls' dormitory, in Kushida Kikyo's Room.

She sat at her desk, a diary open before her, but not a single word written. The pen twirled between her fingers as her gaze drifted to the moon outside the window, her thoughts wandering far away.

Hanyu hadn't included her in the meeting this afternoon. She understood—after all, she had only just returned, and trust took time to rebuild. Yet, the feeling of being excluded still caused a dull ache in her heart.

"I deserve this," she whispered to herself.

Her mobile phone suddenly vibrated. It was an Anonymous Message:

"Tomorrow afternoon at three, Old Place. New mission.--C"

Ryuen's Message. Kushida stared at the screen, her fingers trembling slightly. Although she had decided to pretend to continue helping him, facing it directly still brought a surge of fear.

She took a deep breath and replied, "Received."

Turning off her phone, she continued to gaze out the window. The moon was full, its moonlight casting a serene glow over the campus, making everything appear peaceful and tranquil. But she knew this calm was merely an illusion. Beneath the Surface, undercurrents were churning.

"Can I do it?" she asked herself. "Can I fool Ryuen?"

There was no answer.

But a voice echoed in her heart: You must. Because you owe them.

She closed the diary, switched off the desk lamp, and lay down on the bed. Closing her eyes, many images flashed through her mind—Hirata's gentle smile, Karuizawa's trusting gaze, Hanyu's calm and resolute eyes.

And Ryuen's sinister smile.

She turned over, burying her face in the pillow.

She barely slept that night.

At the same time, on the third floor of the boys' dormitory, in Ryuen Sho's Room.

He hadn't turned on the lights, merely sitting by the window, gazing at the moonlit campus. The room was dark, with only the moonlight outlining his silhouette.

His mobile phone lit up. It was Ibuki Mio's Reply: "Received."

The corner of his mouth curved upwards slightly, revealing a dangerous smile.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Kushida had been given a new mission, and Ibuki was also preparing. Those fools in Class D probably still thought they had already won.

"Hanyu Xiuyi..." he murmured the name, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "You're smart, but not smart enough. You think bribing people around me will let you win?"

He Stood Up, walked to the Desk, and opened the Notebook he never left his side. It was densely filled with all sorts of information—key figures in each class, everyone's Weakness, every point that could be Utilized.

He flipped to the latest page, where several names were written:

Kushida Kikyo (D)—Usable, contact established

Ibuki Mio (C)—Observing, usable but requires caution

Karuizawa Kei (D)—Weakness clear, timing not yet right

Horikita Suzune (D)—Troublesome, Avoid for now

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga (D)—?

He circled the last question mark.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. This person had always been a mystery on his List. He Looks like he has no distinguishing Characteristics, yet every time he appears on a crucial Occasion, he manages to retreat unscathed. All of Hanyu's actions seemed to have his shadow.

"Who exactly are you?" Ryuen muttered.

There was no answer. But he knew, on the day of the Sports Festival, Everything would be revealed.

He closed the Notebook and sat back by the window. Moonlight shone on his face, that face always carrying a dangerous smile, but now it was unusually calm.

"The Game has only just begun," he said to the Moonlight.

Second floor of the boys' Dormitory, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga's Room.

He didn't turn on the lights, nor did he sit by the window. He was just lying on the Bed, staring at the Ceiling. Moonlight filtered through the Gap in the Curtain, casting faint shadows on the Ceiling.

His Mobile Phone vibrated. It was Ibuki Mio's Email:

"Ryuen asked to meet me tomorrow. It should be a New Mission.—Ibuki"

He finished reading, didn't reply, and just put the phone aside.

Ryuen was finally going to make his move. The final setup before the Sports Festival. He would definitely place all his Chess Pieces in position. Kushida's side, Ibuki's side, and other Chess Pieces he didn't know about.

But what Ryuen didn't know was that all his arrangements were already within Ayanokoji's observation.

"Interesting," Ayanokoji said softly, the Corner of his Mouth curving up slightly.

The smile was faint, almost imperceptible. But if anyone saw it, they would surely be surprised—because it was the first time Ayanokoji Kiyonaga had shown a genuine smile.

He turned over and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, many things will happen.

But he was ready.

Saturday morning, the sun was shining.

Hanyu Xiuyi woke up at seven. After washing up and changing his clothes, he was about to go out for breakfast when his phone vibrated.

It was an email from Kushida:

"Ryuen has asked me to meet him at 3 PM today. There's a new mission. I'll try my best to get information. --Kushida"

Hanyu stared at the screen for a few seconds and replied: "Be careful. Safety first."

Putting down his phone, he stood by the window, looking out at the campus. The campus was quiet on the weekend, with only a few early-rising students running on the sports field.

Ryuen was finally making a move. This last setup before the Sports Festival, he would definitely go all out.

"Bring it on," Hanyu said in a low voice. "I'm waiting."

He turned and went out, starting his new day.

At two fifty PM, Kushida Kikyo appeared behind the Old School Building.

It was a secluded place, surrounded by dense trees, rarely visited even during the day. She stood at the agreed meeting spot, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her heart beating fast.

At exactly three o'clock, Ryuen appeared.

He came alone, without any followers. He was wearing casual clothes, with his Signature Dangerous Smile on his face.

"Kushida, you're very punctual," he said, walking up to her. "I like punctual people."

Kushida tried her best to look calm: "What is the mission?"

Ryuen smiled: "Don't rush. First, tell me, what has Class D been up to recently?"

Kushida recounted what she had prepared – Karuizawa organizing a girls' gathering, Sudo leading training, Hanyu often going to the rooftop alone. These were all true, but they were just surface phenomena.

Ryuen listened, lost in thought: "Hanyu still goes to the rooftop alone?"

"Yes. Almost every lunch break."

"What does he do there?"

"I don't know," Kushida shook her head. "It's hard for me to follow him."

Ryuen nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation. Then he took out a note from his pocket and handed it to Kushida.

"This is a new mission."

Kushida took the note. It had only one line of text:

On the day of the Sports Festival, find a way to make Class D's Key Players ingest this before the competition.

Beneath the text, a small packet of medicine was attached.

Kushida's heart sank. Was this... drugging them?

"What is this?"

"Just sleeping pills," Ryuen said. "They'll make them drowsy, won't affect the competition, but they definitely won't get good results. Don't worry, it won't harm them."

Just sleeping pills? Kushida didn't believe it. But she couldn't show it now.

"Why are you asking me to do this? I'm only in charge of intel."

"Because you're the most suitable," Ryuen said with a smile. "You have good people skills, and no one will suspect you if you approach them. And..." he paused, "you're already on my boat, do you still want to get off?"

This was a blatant threat. Kushida gritted her teeth and put the medicine packet into her pocket.

"Understood."

Ryuen nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Once it's done, the remaining payment will be transferred to your account. Also..." he stepped closer and lowered his voice, "don't forget, I have your stuff. So, don't play any tricks."

Kushida's body trembled slightly, but she still nodded.

Ryuen turned and left, disappearing into the woods.

Kushida stood alone, and it took a long time before she recovered. She looked down at the medicine 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 about this.

She took out her mobile phone, about to send a message, when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

She spun around abruptly and saw someone walking out of the woods--

It was Ibuki Mio.

The two looked at each other and were both stunned.

"You..." Kushida looked at her warily.

Ibuki's expression remained cold, but a flicker of complex emotion crossed her eyes.

"Don't be tense," she said. "I'm also here to see Ryuen."

Kushida's heart beat faster. "You too..."

"Yes." Ibuki walked up to her and lowered her voice. "I'm his person too. But..." she paused, "now I'm yours."

Kushida froze.

Ibuki looked at her and suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, but genuine.

"Didn't Hanyu tell you? I've been his 'spy' for a long time."

Kushida's mind was in chaos. Hanyu hadn't told her, perhaps because he didn't trust her, or perhaps because the time wasn't right. But regardless, at this moment, she knew she wasn't alone.

"What mission did Ryuen give you?" Ibuki asked.

Kushida showed her the medicine packet. Ibuki took one look, and her expression turned serious.

"This..."

"What is it?"

Ibuki didn't answer, only saying, "Go back and tell Hanyu. He'll understand."

She turned around, ready to leave, then looked back and said, "Kushida, remember—no matter what happens, our people won't abandon you."

With that, she disappeared into the woods.

Kushida stood in place, clutching the packet of medicine, tears suddenly streaming down her face.

Not from fear, but from being moved.

So, she really wasn't alone.

Seven in the evening, Hanyu Xiuyi's dormitory.

Kushida sat on a chair, the packet of medicine placed in front of her. Hanyu sat opposite her, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga leaned against the window, and Horikita Suzune stood by the door.

All four stared at the packet of medicine.

"Ryuen said it was just sleeping pills," Kushida said. "But I don't believe him."

Ayanokoji walked over, picked up the medicine packet, and sniffed it. Then he looked at it carefully. After that, he said something that made everyone fall silent.

"These aren't sleeping pills."

"Then what are they?"

Ayanokoji looked at Hanyu. "It needs to be tested. But judging by the color and texture, it's very likely a stimulant."

Stimulant! Everyone's expression changed. If Class D's Key Player was found to have taken a stimulant before the competition, the consequences would be unimaginable—not only would their results be disqualified, but they might even be expelled.

"Ryuen is 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 eye sockets reddened again.

Hanyu Stood Up and walked to the window, gazing at the campus in the night.

"If Ryuen wants to play, we'll play with him," he said. "But this time, he'll pay the price."

He Turn Around and looked at the people in the room.

"On the day of the Sports Festival, we're going to put on a show. Make Ryuen think his plan succeeded, and then at the last moment, let him suffer the consequences."

Horikita nodded. "We need a detailed plan."

Ayanokoji said, "I can be responsible for replacing the medicine packet."

Kushida Hesitated for a moment, then said, "I can continue to Cooperate with him and Pretend to administer the drug."

Hanyu looked at her. "Are you sure?"

Kushida took a deep breath, then nodded forcefully.

"I'm sure. Because this time, I'm Not Alone."

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the faces of the four people. In each of their eyes, a determined light Twinkled.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

But dawn was coming.