After the Breaking Point

Saturday night, on the third floor of the Girls Dormitory, in Karuizawa Kei's Room.

She had not turned on the lights. Instead, she curled up in the corner of her bed, wrapped her arms around her knees, and buried her face between them. Moonlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting faint shadows across the floor.

A soft knock came from outside the door.

"Karuizawa, it's me." It was Kushida Kikyo.

Karuizawa did not respond.

The door opened, and Kushida walked in. She carried a cup of warm milk and sat down beside the bed.

"I know you don't feel like talking," she said softly. "But at least drink something. You barely ate anything all day."

Karuizawa raised her head and looked at her. Moonlight fell across her face, usually wreathed in a smile, now streaked with tears.

"Kushida... am I useless?"

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

"But I..." Karuizawa's voice choked. "I'm really scared. The words on that note keep going around and around in my head. They know about my past. They could tell everyone at any moment..."

Kushida handed her the milk. "Drink a little first."

Karuizawa took the cup and sipped slowly. The warm liquid slid down her throat, warming her a little.

"Karuizawa, can I ask you something?" Kushida asked quietly.

Karuizawa nodded.

"What are you afraid of? The past itself, or how people will react when they find out?"

Karuizawa froze. She thought for a long time before answering, "Both... but I'm more afraid of how people will react."

"Why?"

"Because..." Karuizawa's voice was very soft. "Because those things in my past weren't what I wanted to do. Other people forced me. I'm afraid that if everyone finds out, they'll think I'm weak, that I'm a coward, that... I don't deserve to be part of Class D."

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

Karuizawa looked at her.

"I was afraid of everyone finding out who I really was," Kushida said. "The selfish, hypocritical me, who once betrayed everyone. But later, I realized that the real me wasn't so terrible after all."

She took Karuizawa's hand. "And true friends won't abandon you because of your past. They'll accept you for who you are now."

Tears began streaming down Karuizawa's face again.

"But... but..."

"No buts," Kushida said. "Hanyu once said something that's stuck with me. He said your past is just one part of your life. Does it get to define who you are now?"

She looked into Karuizawa's eyes. "Today, in the Exam Hall, you were so scared, but you still made it through the exam. That's who you are now. You chose to trust me and let me stay by your side. That's who you are now. You want to protect Class D and stop Ryuen's scheme from succeeding. That's who you are now."

She spoke each word with conviction. "That's the real you."

Karuizawa looked at her. Tears kept falling, but a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

"Kushida... thank you."

"You're welcome." Kushida smiled. "We're friends, after all."

They smiled at each other. Moonlight fell on them, warm and gentle.

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

He sat at his desk, the note he had picked up from the Exam Hall spread out in front of him. The words stood out harshly under the lamplight.

"I know what happened to you in middle school. If you want to keep it secret, do as I say. —C"

Ryuen.

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga walked in. He held a can of coffee, his expression as calm as ever.

"Still awake?"

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

Ayanokoji glanced at it and nodded. "Ryuen's method."

"I know," Hanyu said. "But what I'm wondering now is, how did he find out about Karuizawa's past?"

Ayanokoji fell silent for a few seconds, then said, "There are two possibilities. Either he investigated her, or someone told him."

"Someone told him?"

"Yes." Ayanokoji looked at him. "Do you remember? Before the Sports Festival, someone put up posters about you. Ryuen couldn't have gotten that kind of information on his own."

Hanyu froze. He remembered the USB Drive Miyabi Nagumo had given him, which supposedly contained detailed files on everyone in Class D.

"Nagumo."

"It's possible." Ayanokoji nodded. "Nagumo has files on every student in the school. If he gave them to Ryuen..."

Hanyu's gaze sharpened. If Nagumo really was backing Ryuen behind the scenes, things were getting complicated.

"I'll go talk to him tomorrow."

"Go now?" Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow. "What evidence do you have?"

Hanyu fell silent. He had no evidence, only suspicions.

"Besides," Ayanokoji continued, "even if you went to see him, would he admit it? He's the vice president of the Student Council. His position is higher than yours, and he has more power. Without evidence, there's nothing you can do to him."

Hanyu gritted his teeth.

"Then what should I do?"

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

"Wait?"

"Wait for Ryuen's next move," Ayanokoji said. "Today was just a test. If Karuizawa had broken down, he would have pressed his advantage. If she held on, he'd try a different approach."

He looked Hanyu in the eyes. "Either way, he'll leave a flaw somewhere. Then we'll make our move."

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

"You're right. Acting impulsively now would only make things worse."

Ayanokoji stood up to leave. At the door, he turned back and said, "Hanyu, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Do you trust Karuizawa?"

Hanyu paused, then said, "Of course I do."

"Why?"

"Because she's part of Class D, one of our friends," Hanyu said. "And because how she acted in the Exam Hall today proved that she deserves our trust."

Ayanokoji looked at him, his eyes seeming especially deep in the dim light.

"Good," he said. "Because she may need your trust from here on."

He opened the door and disappeared into the hallway.

Hanyu sat alone in his room, gazing at the moonlight outside the window.

Trust...

He thought of Karuizawa's pale face in the Exam Hall, her trembling hands, the deep fear in her eyes.

But she had still held on.

That was enough.

He switched off the desk lamp and lay down. Closing his eyes, he pictured the events of the day, one after another.

Ryuen's scheme, Karuizawa's tears, Kushida staying by her side, Ayanokoji's warning...

Tomorrow would be a new day.

And a new battle still lay ahead.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny.

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

"Hanyu, I'm okay now. Thank you for worrying about me. I'd like to join the study session today. Is that all right? —Karuizawa"

He read the message, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He replied, "Of course. See you in the classroom at ten."

At ten that morning, the Class D classroom was full.

When Karuizawa Kei walked in, several girls immediately gathered around her. They didn't ask questions. They simply made room for her and passed her their notes. That quiet understanding and warmth brought tears to Karuizawa's eyes again.

But she smiled.

"Thank you, everyone."

Hanyu stood at the front of the classroom, watching the scene. An indescribable warmth welled up inside him.

Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses and began explaining a math problem. Horikita Suzune added some key points beside him. Ken Sudō, unusually, didn't doze off; he took notes attentively. Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki were also working hard to keep up.

Everything seemed the same as usual.

And yet, everything was different.

Because today, Class D was more united than ever.

At five in the afternoon, the study session ended.

The students filed out, leaving only Hanyu and Karuizawa in the classroom.

Karuizawa walked up to him and bowed deeply.

"Hanyu, thank you."

"Stand up," Hanyu said. "You've already said that plenty of times today."

Karuizawa straightened and looked him in the eyes. Yesterday's fear was gone from them. Now they held only determination and warmth.

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

Hanyu nodded. "Good."

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

"What is it?"

"Why are you so kind to me?"

Hanyu thought for a moment, then said, "Because you're part of Class D. Because you're one of our friends. Because..." He paused. "Because I trust you."

Karuizawa froze. She looked into his eyes, calm and sincere, without a trace of insincerity.

Then she smiled. It was brighter than any smile she had ever given him.

"Thank you, Hanyu."

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

Hanyu remained where he was, watching her go, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Outside the window, the sun sank below the horizon, turning the sky golden.

A new hope was rising.