After the Break

Saturday night. The third floor of the girls' dormitory, Karuizawa Kei's room.

She hadn't turned on the lights, just curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees, her head buried between them. Moonlight shone through the gap in the curtains, casting faint light and shadows on the floor.

A gentle knock came from outside the door.

"Karuizawa, it's me." Kushida Kikyo's voice.

Karuizawa did not respond.

The door opened, and Kushida walked in. She was holding a cup of hot milk and sat down by the bed.

"I know you don't want to talk," her voice was very light. "But drink something at least. You haven't eaten much all day today."

Karuizawa looked up, looking at her. Moonlight shone on her face. That face that was usually always smiling was now full of tear stains.

"Kushida... Am I useless?"

Kushida shook her head. "No, you're strong. If it were me, I might have had a breakdown already."

"But I..." Karuizawa's voice choked. "I'm really scared. The words on that note keep replaying in my mind. They know my past, they can tell everyone anytime..."

Kushida handed her the milk. "Drink some first."

Karuizawa took the milk, drinking it little by little. The warm liquid flowed down her throat, making her body a little warmer.

"Karuizawa, can I ask you a question?" Kushida said softly.

Karuizawa nodded.

"What are you afraid of? Is it the past itself, or the reaction of others knowing about it?"

Karuizawa was stunned. She thought for a long time, then said, "Both... but more afraid of the reaction of others knowing about it."

"Why?"

"Because..." Karuizawa's voice was very light. "Because those things in the past, they weren't things I wanted to do. Others forced me to do them. I'm afraid that once everyone knows, they'll think I'm weak, they'll think I'm cowardly, they'll think... I don't deserve to be a member of Class D."

Kushida was silent for a few seconds, then said, "You know, I was afraid too."

Karuizawa looked at her.

"I'm also afraid of everyone knowing the real me," Kushida said. "The selfish, hypocritical me, the me who betrayed everyone before. But later I discovered that the real me isn't that scary after all."

She held Karuizawa's hand. "Besides, true friends won't abandon you because of your past. They will accept you for who you are now."

Karuizawa's tears flowed again.

"But... but..."

"No 'buts'," Kushida said. "Hanyu (he) once said something that I've always remembered. He said, 'Your past is just a fragment of your life. Can it define the present you?'"

She looked into Karuizawa's eyes. "Today, in the exam room, you were clearly so scared, but you still persisted and finished the test. That's the present you. You're willing to trust me, willing to let me accompany you. That's the present you. You want to protect Class D, don't want Ryuen's conspiracy to succeed. That's the present you."

She said word by word, "These are the true you."

Karuizawa looked at her, tears flowing continuously, but a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Kushida... Thank you."

"You're welcome," Kushida smiled. "We're friends, right?"

The two looked at each other and smiled. Moonlight shone on them, warm and gentle.

At the same time, on the second floor of the Boys' Dormitory, in Hanyu Xiuyi's room.

He sat at his desk, the note picked up from the exam room was spread out in front of him. Those lines were especially glaring under the light.

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

Ryuen.

He clenched his fist, knuckles white.

A knock came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga walked in. He was holding a can of coffee, his expression was as plain as ever.

"Not asleep yet?"

"Can't sleep." Hanyu pushed the note for him to see.

Ayanokoji took a look and nodded. "Ryuen's method."

"I know," Hanyu said. "But what I'm thinking now is, how does he know Karuizawa's past?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "There are two possibilities. One is that he investigated. The second is that someone told him."

"Someone told him?"

"Yes," Ayanokoji looked at him. "Do you remember? Before the Sports Festival, someone posted posters about you. That kind of information isn't something Ryuen could obtain himself."

Hanyu was stunned. He remembered the U disk that Nagumo Miyabi gave him, which was said to contain detailed files on everyone in Class D.

"Nagumo."

"It's possible." Ayanokoji Looked at Him, nodding. "Nagumo has files on all students. If he gave them to Ryuen..."

Hanyu's eyes sharpened. If Nagumo was truly supporting Ryuen from behind the scenes, things would get complicated.

"I'll go find him tomorrow."

"Now?" Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow. "Where's the evidence?"

Hanyu fell into Silence. He had no evidence, only speculation.

"Besides," Ayanokoji continued, "even if you go, will he admit it? He's the Student Council vice president. His Status is higher than yours, his power greater. Without evidence, you can't do anything to him."

Hanyu gritted his teeth.

"Then What to Do?"

Ayanokoji took a sip of coffee and Plainly said, "Wait."

"Wait?"

"Wait for Ryuen's next move," Ayanokoji said. "Today was just a probe. If Karuizawa has a Breakdown, he'll press his advantage. If Karuizawa holds on, he'll try a different approach."

He looked into Hanyu's eyes. "Whichever way it goes, he'll reveal a weakness. That's when we'll make our move."

Hanyu was silent for a long time, then finally nodded.

"You're right. Acting rashly now will only mess things up."

Ayanokoji Stood Up, preparing to leave. As he reached the Gate of Opening, he turned back and said, "Hanyu, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Do you trust Karuizawa?"

Hanyu froze for a moment, then Said, "Of course, I trust her."

"Why?"

"Because she's a member of Class D, our Companion," Hanyu said. "And her performance in the Exam Hall today proved she's trustworthy."

Ayanokoji Looked at Him, his eyes seeming especially Deep in the Dim light.

"That's good," he said. "Because from now on, she might need your trust."

He pushed open the door and disappeared down the Corridor.

Hanyu sat Alone in the room, gazing at the Moonlight outside the window.

Trust...

He remembered Karuizawa's pale face in the exam hall, her trembling hands, the deep fear in her eyes.

But she had persevered.

That was enough.

He turned off the desk lamp and lay down on the bed. Closing his eyes, scenes from today flashed through his mind.

Ryuen's conspiracy, Karuizawa's tears, Kushida's companionship, Ayanokoji's reminder...

Tomorrow would be a new day.

And new battles still lay ahead.

Sunday morning, the sun was bright.

When Hanyu Xiuyi woke up, he received an email from Karuizawa:

"Hanyu, I'm okay now. Thank you for your concern. I want to attend the review session today, is that okay? -- Karuizawa"

He looked at the message, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upwards.

He replied: "Of course. Ten o'clock, see you in the classroom."

At ten o'clock in the morning, the Class D classroom was full.

When Karuizawa Kei walked in, several girls immediately surrounded her. They didn't ask many questions, just made space for her and handed her notes. That kind of understanding, that warmth, made Karuizawa's eyes redden again.

But she smiled.

"Thank you, everyone."

Hanyu stood at the lectern, watching this scene, an indescribable emotion surging in his heart.

Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses and began explaining a math problem. Horikita Suzune added key points beside him. Sudo Ken, uncharacterently, wasn't dozing off and was diligently taking notes. Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki were also trying hard to keep up.

Everything looked the same as usual.

But everything was also different from usual.

Because today's Class D was more united than ever before.

At five in the afternoon, the review session ended.

Students left one after another, leaving only Hanyu and Karuizawa in the classroom.

Karuizawa walked up to him and bowed deeply.

"Hanyu, thank you."

"Get up," Hanyu Said. "You've already said that many times today."

Karuizawa straightened up, looked at her eyes. Those eyes, no longer holding yesterday's fear, now held only determination and warmth.

"I've figured it out," she said. "No matter what Ryuen wants to do, I won't be afraid anymore. Because I know, I'm not alone."

Hanyu nodded. "That's good."

"And..." Karuizawa hesitated. "Hanyu, can I ask you a question?"

"What question?"

"Why are you so good to me?"

Hanyu thought for a moment and said, "Because you're a member of Class D. Because you're our companion. Because..." he paused, "Because I believe in you."

Karuizawa Was Stunned. She looked at his eyes, those eyes calm and sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

Then she smiled. That smile was brighter than ever before.

"Thank you, Hanyu."

She turned around and left, her ponytail gently swaying behind her.

Hanyu stood in place, looking at her back view, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly.

Outside the window, the sunset was sinking into the horizon, the sky a golden hue.

New hope was rising.