The Calm Before the Storm

Saturday morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting warm light spots on the floor.

Hanyu Xiuyi woke up very early. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying Ayanokoji's words from last night in his mind.

"Ryuen's target might not just be Karuizawa. He wants to create an incident that can shake Class D to its core."

An incident that can shake the entire Class D... What could it be?

He sat up, picked up his mobile phone, and checked the time—6:30 AM. Two and a half hours until the exam.

After washing up and changing clothes, he left the dormitory.

The campus was quiet in the early morning, with only a few students jogging past. He walked on the path leading to the Teaching Building, still pondering Ryuen's plan in his mind.

When he reached the entrance of the Teaching Building, he encountered someone—Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"Morning." Ayanokoji held a can of coffee, his expression as plain as ever.

"Morning." Hanyu looked at him, "Couldn't sleep either?"

"Mm." Ayanokoji took a sip of coffee, "Thinking about things."

The two walked into the Teaching Building side by side. The corridor was empty, with only their footsteps echoing.

"Have you figured it out?" Hanyu asked, "Ryuen's plan."

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "There are a few possibilities. But the most likely one is to create chaos."

"Chaos?"

"Yes." Ayanokoji said, "During the exam, everyone's attention will be on the exam papers. If something unexpected happens at this time, like someone fainting, someone getting caught for cheating, someone causing trouble... the order of the entire exam hall will be disrupted."

Hanyu pondered. This was indeed a feasible plan. If someone fainted during the exam, everyone's attention would be drawn to them, and the Invigilator would be in a panic. And in this chaos, Ryuen could do many things.

"But how will he create chaos?"

"I don't know." Ayanokoji shook his head, "But it's definitely related to Karuizawa. She will be the 'fuse'."

Hanyu's heart sank. If something happened to Karuizawa during the exam, he couldn't imagine the consequences.

"What can we do?"

"Be prepared to respond." Ayanokoji looked at him, "No matter what happens, stay calm and react immediately. As long as you don't panic, Class D won't panic."

Hanyu nodded.

When the two reached the classroom door, someone was already waiting inside—it was Karuizawa Kei.

She sat at her seat, a book open in front of her, but her gaze was fixed outside the window. Hearing footsteps, she turned her head and saw Hanyu, a smile appearing on her face.

"Good morning, Hanyu! Ayanokoji!"

"Morning." Hanyu walked over and sat beside her. "How's your review going?"

"It's okay..." Karuizawa scratched her head. "But I'm still really nervous."

"It's normal to be nervous," Hanyu said. "But don't be too nervous, it'll affect your performance."

Karuizawa nodded, but the worry in her eyes didn't completely disappear.

Hanyu knew what she was worried about. Not the exam, but Ryuen's plan.

"Karuizawa," he lowered his voice. "No matter what happens today, remember one thing."

"What is it?"

"We're all by your side." Hanyu looked into her eyes. "Kushida, Hirata, Sudo, Horikita... We're all here. You won't be alone."

Karuizawa froze for a moment, then smiled. The smile was warm and genuine.

"Thank you, Hanyu."

At 8:30 AM, students began to enter the exam halls one after another.

The exam halls for the midterms were assigned by student ID. Hanyu Xiuyi's exam hall was on the first floor, Karuizawa Kei's was on the third floor, and Kushida Kikyo was also on the third floor—in the same exam hall as her.

This was arranged by Ayanokoji. Through some "channels," he had adjusted the exam halls for a few people, putting Kushida and Karuizawa together.

At 9:00 AM, the exam began.

The first subject was National Language. After Hanyu received the exam paper, he took a deep breath and started answering. The questions weren't too difficult; they were all within the scope of review. He quickly scanned through them and started from the first question.

Time ticked by, second by second. The only sounds in the classroom were the rustling of papers and the scratching of pens.

While answering, Hanyu paid attention to the movements around him. He pricked up his ears, ready to hear any anomaly.

But there was nothing. Everything was normal.

At 10:30 AM, the National Language exam ended. A fifteen-minute break.

Hanyu walked out of the exam hall and encountered Horikita Suzune in the corridor.

"How was it?" he asked.

"It was okay," Horikita said. "The questions were all within the review scope."

"Any activity on the third floor?"

Horikita shook her head. "No. Kushida just messaged that everything is normal."

Hanyu nodded, but the unease in his heart didn't disappear.

Ryuen wouldn't give up so easily. He must be waiting for something.

At 10:45, the second subject, Mathematics, began.

Math was Hanyu's strong suit. After receiving the exam paper, he quickly scanned it and found that most of the questions were ones he had practiced before. He breathed a sigh of relief and began answering.

When he reached the third question, he suddenly heard a commotion.

The sound came from upstairs—the third floor.

His heart sank.

Here it comes!

He immediately put down his pen and raised his hand. "Teacher, I need to go to the toilet."

The invigilator glanced at him and nodded. "Go and come back quickly."

Hanyu strode out of the exam hall and rushed towards the stairs.

On the third floor, there was chaos.

Several students were gathered in the corridor, some shouting, some crying. The invigilators were trying to maintain order, but they were clearly overwhelmed.

Hanyu pushed through the crowd and saw Karuizawa Kei sitting on the ground, her face pale and her body trembling. Kushida Kikyo was crouching beside her, holding her tightly.

"What's wrong?" Hanyu rushed over.

"Someone... someone put something in her drawer..." Kushida's voice trembled. "She found it during the exam... it was a note... it said..."

She couldn't continue.

Hanyu looked at Kei. She was clutching a note tightly, her knuckles white.

"Let me see."

Kei looked up, her eyes full of tears. Trembling, she handed the note to Hanyu.

The note contained only one line:

"I know about what happened in your middle school. If you want it kept secret, do as I say.--C"

Hanyu's eyes sharpened.

This was Ryuen's Methods. He wasn't creating chaos during the exam, but rather using this method to deliver a fatal blow to Karuizawa at her most tense moment.

"When did you find the note?" he asked.

"Just now..." Kushida said, "When she opened her exam paper, she saw it..."

This meant someone had placed the note in Karuizawa's drawer before the exam started.

"What about the surveillance?"

"This exam hall doesn't have surveillance..." Kushida shook her head.

Hanyu gritted his teeth. Ryuen was too cunning. He had chosen the most suitable time and place, leaving Karuizawa with nowhere to escape.

He crouched down and looked into Karuizawa's eyes.

"Karuizawa, listen to me."

Karuizawa looked up, teary-eyed, at him.

"This note is just a piece of paper. It can't hurt you. The only thing that can hurt you is your own fear of it."

Karuizawa froze.

"Ryuen wants you to be afraid, wants you to breakdown, wants you to fail the exam," Hanyu said word by word, "If you're truly scared by him, he wins. If you're not afraid, he loses."

He extended his hand and gently took the hand holding the note.

"Let go."

Karuizawa stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly released her grip. The note fell to the ground.

"Now, stand up."

Kushida helped Karuizawa stand up. Her legs were still trembling, but there was a hint of determination in her eyes now.

"Go back to the exam," Hanyu said, "Finish the remaining questions. No matter the outcome, as long as you persevere, you win."

Karuizawa took a deep breath and nodded.

"Thank you, Hanyu (he)."

She turned around and walked back into the exam hall. Kushida followed beside her, holding her hand tightly.

Hanyu stood in place, watching them walk in, then looked down at the note on the ground.

He picked it up and read the line of text again.

"I know about your middle school days. If you want to keep it a secret, do as I say. -- C"

Ryuen, you've gone too far.

He clenched the note, a cold fury flashing in his eyes.

He would settle this score.

Karuizawa insisted on finishing the afternoon exam.

When she walked out of the exam hall, her complexion was still poor, but at least she hadn't broken down. Kushida had stayed with her, and Sudo, Hirata, and Horikita had also gathered around.

"Karuizawa, are you alright?" Hirata asked with concern.

"I'm fine." Karuizawa forced a smile. "I'm fine."

But anyone could see the exhaustion and fear in her eyes.

Hanyu walked over and said to the group, "Let her rest for a while. Kushida, you accompany her back to the dormitory."

Kushida nodded and helped Karuizawa leave.

The others stood in place, silent for a long time.

"That bastard Ryuen!" Sudo smashed his fist against the wall. "I'm going to settle scores with him!"

"Don't be impulsive," Horikita stopped him. "Going now would play right into his hands."

"Then what do we do? Just let it go?"

Hanyu spoke up. "It won't be let go."

Everyone looked at him.

His gaze was cold and firm, a look they had never seen before.

"I will make him pay the price," Hanyu said. "But not now. The most important thing right now is to help Karuizawa recover."

He turned and left, leaving the others standing in place.

The sun was setting, painting the horizon a fiery red.

A new storm was brewing.

And he was ready.