A New Beginning

On Monday morning, as the first ray of sunlight streamed into the classroom, Class D students had already begun to arrive.

Hanyu Xiuyi sat at his seat, his gaze sweeping across the classroom. Everything looked the same as usual—Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki were loudly discussing TV shows they watched over the weekend, Sudo Ken walked in yawning, Yukimura Teruhiko was already flipping through his textbook, and Karuizawa Kei was chatting with a few girls about the latest fashion trends.

But everything was also different from usual.

Because Kushida Kikyo was talking to Sakura Airi, not with that deliberately sweet smile, but with a genuine, warm smile. Because after Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki finished their discussion, they took out their notebooks and started reviewing today's lessons. Because after Sudo Ken yawned, he didn't lie down to sleep as usual, but instead opened his notebook to review yesterday's content.

Subtle changes, yet they indicated that the entire class was quietly transforming.

"Good morning, Hanyu." Kushida said softly as she passed by him.

"Good morning." Hanyu nodded in response.

Kushida walked to her seat and sat down, her shoulder-length short hair pinned behind her ear with a pale blue hairpin. Her back view looked relaxed and natural, no longer carrying the tense feeling from before.

Horikita Suzune sat down beside him, her black hair neatly draped over her shoulders. She said in a low voice, "Ayanokoji hasn't returned yet?"

"No," Hanyu said. "He said it would take about a week. Today is only the third day."

Horikita nodded and didn't ask further.

The class bell rang, and Chabashira Sae walked into the classroom. Her gaze swept across the room, pausing for a moment on Kushida, then she began the lesson as if nothing had happened.

Everything was on track.

But Hanyu knew the real test was still ahead. Ryuen wouldn't give up, and other classes wouldn't stand by and watch Class D rise. The victory in the Sports Festival was just the beginning; the road ahead was still long.

During lunch break, Hanyu Xiuyi was eating on the rooftop of the teaching building. This was his habit: alone, quiet, a place to think.

Today, that habit was once again broken.

There was already someone on the rooftop—Ichinose Honami. She was standing by the railing, her pale pink long hair gently fluttering in the breeze as she gazed out at the distant campus.

"Ichinose?" Hanyu asked, somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Ichinose turned around, revealing a warm smile. "Hanyu, I knew you'd come here. Hirata told me."

Hanyu walked over and stood beside her. "Did you need something?"

"Yes," Ichinose's expression turned serious. "About what's coming next."

"What's coming next?"

"The Sports Festival is over, but the school's competition won't stop," Ichinose said. "Next month there will be the midterm exam, and the month after that, a new special exam. Class D is doing well right now, but the other classes won't just sit back and watch."

Hanyu nodded. "I know."

"Especially Class A," Ichinose continued. "Katsuragi and Sakayanagi are already preparing. They won't allow Class D to keep rising."

Hanyu was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Ichinose looked at him, his eyes sincere. "Because I think Class D's rise is a good thing for the school. Competition drives progress. And..." he paused, "Hanyu, you're a good person. Good people deserve help."

Hanyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"Ichinose, you're a good person too."

Ichinose also smiled. "Then let's help each other. Class B and Class D can continue to cooperate."

"Okay."

The two looked at each other and smiled. Sunlight shone on them, warm and bright.

After school in the afternoon, Hanyu Xiuyi encountered an unexpected person in the library—Yamashita, a senior from the Second Year.

"Junior Hanyu!" Yamashita saw him and immediately approached, his expression somewhat tense. "I was just looking for you!"

"What's wrong?"

Yamashita lowered his voice. "I heard some things about your class."

Hanyu's heart tightened. "What things?"

"Someone is inquiring about information on that student named Ayanokoji in your class," Yamashita said. "It's someone from the Third Year."

Hanyu's eyes sharpened. Third Year? How could Ayanokoji be involved with the Third Year?

"Do you know who it is?"

"No," Yamashita shook his head. "But I heard them asking the librarian if she had any files on Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. The librarian said no, and they left."

Hanyu pondered. Ayanokoji's background had always been a mystery. Where he came from, why he came to this school, why he was always so low-key yet always seemed to see through everything—these questions had no answers.

Now, someone was investigating him.

"Thank you for telling me this," Hanyu said. "I'll be careful."

"You're welcome," Yamashita said. "You've helped me so many times, this little thing is nothing."

After Yamashita left, Hanyu sat in a corner of the library, motionless for a long time.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, who exactly are you?

At 7 PM, Hanyu Xiuyi's dormitory.

He sat at his desk, a notebook open before him, but he hadn't written a single word. Yamashita's words replayed in his mind--someone was investigating Ayanokoji.

His mobile phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from an unknown number:

"Want to know the truth about Ayanokoji Kiyonaga? Tomorrow at 3 PM, the third floor of the Old School Building. Come alone.--An Informer"

Hanyu stared at the message, his heart accelerating.

The third floor of the Old School Building again. That place always seemed to be connected to secrets.

Was this a trap? Or did someone really know something?

He thought for a long time, finally replying: "I'll be there."

Trap or not, he had to go. He had to get to the bottom of things concerning Ayanokoji.

At 2:50 PM on Tuesday, Hanyu Xiuyi appeared behind the Old School Building.

He hadn't told anyone; he came alone. If it was a trap, he didn't want to implicate anyone else. If it wasn't, he needed to face the truth alone.

At exactly 3 PM, a figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

It was a boy wearing a third-year uniform, with glasses, looking refined and gentle. He walked up to Hanyu, sizing him up.

"You're Hanyu Xiuyi?"

"Yes. Who are you?"

"Third Year, Class B, Nagumo Miyabi." The boy extended his hand. "Vice President of the Student Council."

Hanyu was stunned. The Vice President of the Student Council? The legendary Nagumo Miyabi?

He extended his hand and shook Nagumo's.

"What do you want with me?"

Nagumo smiled. "Don't be tense. I'm not here to harm you. I just want to tell you some things."

"What things?"

"About Ayanokoji Kiyonaga." Nagumo leaned against the wall, his expression turning serious. "Do you know who he is?"

"No."

"That's right." Nagumo nodded. "He hides himself too well. But I know."

He paused and revealed a fact that shocked Hanyu.

"Ayanokoji Kiyonaga comes from a place called the 'White Room'."

"White Room?"

"It's a... how should I put it, a special educational institution." Nagumo's expression became complicated. "It specializes in cultivating 'perfect people'. From a very young age, they receive all-around training—knowledge, physical ability, combat, psychology, social skills... everything you can think of."

Hanyu's heart rate accelerated.

"Ayanokoji Kiyonaga is the most successful 'product' of that institution," Nagumo continued. "But he escaped."

"Escaped?"

"Yes." Nagumo nodded. "I don't know the specific reason, but he did escape from there and came to this school. And..." He paused. "The people from the White Room have been looking for him."

Hanyu fell silent. The news was too shocking; he couldn't process it for a moment.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Nagumo looked at him with complex eyes. "Because I want to see what you'll do after knowing the truth. Will you be afraid of him and stay away? Or will you..."

He didn't finish, but Hanyu understood.

"Did he tell you?"

"No," Hanyu said. "But he's helped me many times. No matter where he comes from, he's my friend."

Nagumo stared at him for a long time, then smiled.

"Interesting. Just like the legends say." He turned to leave, then looked back and said, "Hanyu Xiuyi, be careful. The people from the White Room won't give up. They'll find this place sooner or later."

He left, leaving Hanyu standing alone.

Sunlight streamed through the dilapidated windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Hanyu stood there, unmoving for a long time.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, the White Room, an escaped product, people looking for him...

All of it was too shocking.

But he knew that no matter where Ayanokoji came from, no matter what he had experienced, he was a member of Class D, his friend.

That was enough.

He took a deep breath and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the Old School Building, the sunset was sinking below the horizon, painting the sky a fiery red.

Tomorrow, Ayanokoji would be back.

And he would greet him with a "good morning" as usual.

Because that's what friends do.