Eyes in the Dark

Wednesday night, dark clouds obscured the moonlight, plunging the entire campus into deep darkness.

Third floor of the boys' dormitory, Ryuen Sho's Room.

He didn't turn on the lights, just sat by the window, gazing at the night outside. The faint glow of his mobile phone screen illuminated his face, which bore a cold, sinister smile.

"Hanyu Xiuyi..." he whispered the name, "You think refusing Nagumo will keep you safe? Too naive."

A faint knock came from behind him.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a figure walked in—Ibuki Mio. (She) was wearing casual clothes, (her) short hair somewhat messy, (her) expression as indifferent as ever.

"What did you call me here for?"

Ryuen turned around, looking at (her), "I have a task for you."

Ibuki didn't speak, just looked at him.

"On the day of the Midterm Exam, I want you to do something." Ryuen took a small note out of (his) pocket, "This is the specific time and place. You need to be there then."

Ibuki took the note, glanced at it, and (her) pupils contracted slightly.

"This..."

"What? Scared?" Ryuen's smile turned dangerous.

Ibuki was silent for a few seconds, then said, "It's not that I'm scared, it's that I don't understand. What benefits does this bring you?"

"Benefits?" Ryuen laughed, "The benefit is making Hanyu Xiuyi lose what's most important to him."

He stood Up, walked to the window, and gazed at the night outside. "Hanyu, this person's biggest weakness is caring too much about his companions. He's willing to take risks to protect them. So..." he Looked Back at Ibuki, "If we capture his companions, we capture him."

Ibuki fell silent.

"Go on," Ryuen waved (his) hand, "After this is done, you'll be rewarded."

Ibuki Nodded, turned Around, and left.

After walking out of the room, (her) expression changed instantly. Beneath that indifferent mask were eyes burning with rage.

(She) quickly walked to the corner of the stairs, took out (her) mobile phone, and quickly sent a message:

"Ryuen is going to make a move on the day of the Midterm Exam. The target is Karuizawa Kei. Specific time and place will be sent later. — Ibuki"

After sending it, she deleted the message and walked down the stairs as if nothing had happened.

At the same time, on the second floor of the Girls Dormitory, in Karuizawa Kei's room.

She was lying on her bed, scrolling through her mobile phone. There was an English Quiz tomorrow, but she couldn't focus at all. Hanyu Xiuyi's face kept appearing in her mind.

"What's wrong with me..." she muttered.

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

"Someone is going to make a move against you on the day of the Midterm Exam. Be careful. -- Friends"

Karuizawa froze. Make a move against me? Who?

She immediately replied: "Who are you? What do you mean?"

But there was no response.

She stared at the screen, her heart racing. Make a move against me... Could it be Ryuen?

She remembered what Kushida had said, remembered what Hanyu had warned her about, remembered the dangers lurking in the shadows.

She picked up her mobile phone, wanting to text Hanyu, but hesitated.

What if it was a Prank? What if someone just wanted to scare her?

But what if it was real?

She bit her lip and finally sent a message:

"Hanyu, someone warned me that someone would make a move against me on the day of the Midterm Exam. Do You Know anything? -- Karuizawa"

After sending it, she held her mobile phone and had a sleepless night.

Thursday morning, Hanyu Xiuyi woke up and saw Karuizawa's message.

He stared at the screen, his brow furrowed.

Ibuki had also sent a message last night, saying Ryuen planned to make a move against Karuizawa on the day of the Midterm Exam. Now Karuizawa had also received a warning.

What exactly did Ryuen want to do?

He immediately replied to Karuizawa: "I know. After school today, let's meet. Until then, be careful and don't act alone."

Then he sent a message to Ibuki: "Received. Thank you. Keep watching, and tell me immediately if you get any news."

During the morning Course, he barely paid attention. His mind was constantly thinking about Ryuen's Plan.

Make a move on the day of the Midterm Exam... The target is Karuizawa Kei... But what exactly is the method? Where? What exactly does Ryuen want to do?

During the lunch break, he convened the core members for an emergency meeting. The location this time was an open space behind the gymnasium, which was more concealed and less likely to be discovered.

Those who attended were: Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yousuke, Sudo Ken, Kushida Kikyo, Karuizawa Kei, and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga. Yukimura Teruhiko did not attend as he had to prepare study materials; Matsushita Chiaki and Hasebe Haruka were not notified.

"Ibuki sent word," Hanyu said, getting straight to the point. "Ryuen plans to make a move on Karuizawa on the day of the midterm exam."

Everyone's expression changed.

"On me?" Karuizawa's voice trembled slightly. "Wh-why me?"

"Because you are the most suitable," Ayanokoji said. "You are the center of the girls' group. If something happens to you, the entire class will be affected. And..." he paused, "you have a past you don't want others to know."

Karuizawa's face turned even paler.

Kushida Kikyo held her hand. "Don't be afraid, we're all here for you."

"What does Ryuen want to do?" Sudo Ken clenched his fist.

"We don't know yet," Hanyu said. "But Ibuki said he would tell us the specific time and place. What we need to do now is prepare in advance."

"How do we prepare?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu looked at Ayanokoji. Ayanokoji thought for a moment and said, "First, Karuizawa, starting today, do not act alone. Wherever you go, at least two people must accompany you."

Karuizawa nodded.

"Second, on the day of the exam, we will send someone to protect her secretly," Ayanokoji continued. "But it can't be too obvious, or Ryuen will notice."

"I'll go!" Sudo Ken immediately said.

"You're too conspicuous," Horikita shook her head. "Wherever you go, Ryuen will notice."

"Then who will go?"

Ayanokoji looked at Kushida. "Kushida, you go."

Kushida was stunned for a moment. "Me?"

"Yes," Ayanokoji said. "You and Karuizawa usually get along well, so acting together won't arouse suspicion. Besides, you've experienced Ryuen's threat and know how to deal with him."

Kushida hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

"I'll go too," Hirata said. "I can pretend to be going to the exam venue and follow behind."

"I'll go too," Sudo insisted. "I'm worried."

"Then I'll go too," Horikita said.

Hanyu looked at these people, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. There was emotion, relief, and also a trace of worry.

"Okay," he said. "It's settled. On the day of the exam, Kushida and Karuizawa will go in front, with Hirata, Sudo, and Horikita following behind. If anything unusual happens, act immediately."

He looked around. "Remember, don't be impulsive, and don't alert the enemy. Our goal isn't to catch Ryuen, but to protect Karuizawa."

Everyone nodded.

After the meeting ended, they left one by one. Karuizawa was the last to go. She walked up to Hanyu, her head down.

"Hanyu... thank you."

"You're welcome," Hanyu said. "You're a member of Class D, so it's my duty to protect you."

Karuizawa looked up at him. In her eyes, besides gratitude, there was something else.

"Hanyu, I..."

"What is it?"

Karuizawa opened her mouth, but finally shook her head. "It's nothing... I'm leaving."

She turned and left, leaving Hanyu standing alone.

The wind blew, ruffling his hair.

He looked at her back view, lost in thought.

Friday afternoon, the last day before the midterm exam.

The Class D classroom was filled with a tense atmosphere. Yukimura Teruhiko was writing the exam schedule on the blackboard, and Horikita Suzune was giving everyone the final key hints. Everyone was listening intently, afraid of missing any detail.

Hanyu Xiuyi sat in his seat, seemingly listening, but his thoughts were far away.

Tomorrow was the midterm exam. Tomorrow, Ryuen would make his move.

He looked at Karuizawa Kei, who was looking intently at the blackboard, her blonde hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked the same as usual, but Hanyu noticed her hands were trembling slightly.

He looked at Kushida Kikyo, who sat next to Karuizawa, glancing at her from time to time with concern in her eyes.

He looked at Sudo Ken, Hirata Yousuke, and Horikita Suzune. Everyone was in their own seats, doing their own things.

This was his team. These were his companions.

He wouldn't let anyone hurt them.

After school, Hanyu called out to Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, who was about to leave.

"Ayanokoji, wait a moment."

Ayanokoji stopped and looked back at him.

"Is there something else?"

"I want to ask you a question," Hanyu said. "About Ryuen's Plan, do you have any thoughts?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Yes."

"What thoughts?"

"I think Ryuen's target might not just be Karuizawa."

Hanyu was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"He wants to create an incident," Ayanokoji said. "An incident significant enough to shake up the entire Class D. Karuizawa is just a trigger; the real victim will be the whole class."

Hanyu fell silent. This analysis made too much sense. That person, Ryuen, was never satisfied with just hurting one person. He wanted to destroy the entire class.

"Then what should we do?"

Ayanokoji looked at him, his eyes appearing especially deep in the sunset's afterglow.

"Prepare in advance," he said. "But not to protect Karuizawa, rather to prepare for a greater storm."

He turned and left, leaving Hanyu standing alone.

The sun set, and the horizon was a fiery red.

A greater storm...

Hanyu clenched his fist, a determined light flashing in his eyes.

No matter how big the storm, he would stand in front of it.

Because he had promised to protect these people.