Undercurrents Rise Again

On Thursday evening, the sunset dyed the entire campus golden yellow. The lights were still on in Class D's classroom, with a few students tidying up after the exams.

Hanyu Xiuyi stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside. The midterm exams were over, and Class D had proven themselves by achieving first place in the grade. But he knew this was just the beginning.

"Hanyu." Horikita Suzune walked over and stopped beside him. "What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about what's next," Hanyu Said. "Ryuen won't give up, and Nagumo is also watching us."

Horikita nodded. "I have the same worry. Especially Ryuen; Class C got last place this time, he'll definitely find a way to turn things around."

"What do you think he'll do?"

"I don't know," Horikita shook her head. "But it's definitely not anything good."

The two fell into silence for a few seconds. Outside the window, the sunset was slowly sinking below the horizon.

"By the way," Horikita suddenly said, "I saw Ibuki Mio in the library this afternoon."

Hanyu turned to look at her. "Was she alone?"

"Yes. Sitting alone in a corner, as if waiting for someone," Horikita said. "I was going to go over and greet her, but she left when she saw me."

Hanyu looked thoughtful. Ibuki Mio, that spy lurking in Class C, had been silent recently. Who was she waiting for? What was she waiting for?

"I'll contact her and ask," Hanyu took out his mobile phone.

Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a message from an Unknown Number:

"Old Place, 7 PM tonight. Important intel. -- Ibuki"

Hanyu looked at the message, his heart racing.

"Is it Ibuki?" Horikita asked.

"Yeah," Hanyu nodded. "She's asked me to meet her tonight."

"Be careful," Horikita frowned. "It might be a trap."

"I know," Hanyu said. "But if it's real intel, I can't not go."

Horikita looked at him, finally sighed. "I'll go with you."

"No need," Hanyu shook his head. "Going alone is safer. If it's a trap, having more people will only make things worse."

"But..."

"Don't worry," Hanyu interrupted her. "I know what I'm doing."

Horikita stared at him for a few seconds, then finally nodded. "Then be careful. Keep in touch at all times."

"Okay."

Seven in the evening, behind the Old School Building.

Hanyu Xiuyi appeared at the agreed-upon location precisely on time. It was a remote area, surrounded by dense trees, and the moonlight was obscured by clouds, casting a dim light.

Ibuki Mio was already waiting for him. She was wearing casual clothes, her short hair somewhat messy, her expression as indifferent as ever. But Hanyu noticed a hint of tension in her eyes.

"You're here," she said.

"Yeah. Any information?"

Ibuki glanced around, confirmed no one was present, and then said in a low voice, "Ryuen is planning a new operation."

"What operation?"

"There's a new Special Exam next month," Ibuki said. "Ryuen plans to make his move then."

Hanyu's heart tightened. "Specifics?"

"I don't know yet," Ibuki shook her head. "But he's been in contact with Nagumo Miyabi frequently recently. I suspect they're joining forces to plan something."

Nagumo Miyabi. That name again.

"Anything else?"

"Yes," Ibuki took out a note from her pocket. "I found this in Ryuen's room. Take a look."

Hanyu took the note and read it under the light of his mobile phone. It was a handwritten list with several names – Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyo, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune. Each name had some symbols and dates next to it.

"What is this?"

"It might be the order he's preparing to strike," Ibuki said. "Karuizawa is the first target, Kushida the second, Hirata the third, and Horikita the fourth."

Hanyu's gaze sharpened. Ryuen hadn't given up after all. He was targeting the Core Members of Class D one by one.

"Thank you for telling me this," he said. "Be careful yourself."

"I know," Ibuki nodded. "I'll be going then. Contact me if anything comes up."

She turned to leave but looked back. "Hanyu, be careful of Nagumo. That person is far more dangerous than Ryuen."

She disappeared into the darkness.

Hanyu stood there, staring at the note in his hand, motionless for a long time.

Ryuen, Nagumo, the new Special Exam, the plan to Break One by One...

A new storm was brewing.

On Friday morning, Hanyu Xiuyi convened an emergency meeting of the core members. This time, the location was Hirata Yousuke's dormitory.

In attendance were: Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yousuke, Yukimura Teruhiko, Sudo Ken, Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyo, and Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"Ibuki sent word," Hanyu recounted last night's events, then showed everyone the list.

After everyone had seen it, their expressions turned serious.

"That Bastard Ryuen!" Sudo Ken slammed his fist on the table. "He's relentless!"

"Don't be impulsive," Horikita said. "The most important thing now is how to respond."

Yukimura Pushed Up His Glasses. "Judging by the order on the list, Karuizawa is the first target, and Kushida is the second. This means Ryuen will focus on dealing with those two next."

Karuizawa's face turned slightly pale, but she quickly regained her composure. "I'm not afraid. It's good he's coming; I also want to settle scores with him."

Kushida nodded. "I'm not afraid either. Let him do whatever he wants."

Hanyu looked at the two girls, a complex emotion surging within him. These two, who were once Ryuen's easiest weaknesses to exploit, had now become so resolute.

"You two aren't afraid, but we can't lower our guard," he said. "From today onwards, try not to act alone. You must have someone with you wherever you go."

"Understood," the two nodded in unison.

"Hirata, you're the third target," Hanyu said, looking at Hirata. "You need to be careful too. You're the class coordinator; if something happens to you, the entire class will be affected."

Hirata nodded. "I know. I'll be careful."

"Horikita, you're fourth," Hanyu said. "Even though you're ranked lower, you can't be careless."

Horikita nodded.

"What about us?" Sudo asked. "What do we do?"

"You're responsible for protection," Hanyu said. "Sudo, you follow Karuizawa. Yukimura, you follow Kushida. Hirata and I will be a pair, and Horikita and Ayanokoji will be a pair. Look out for each other."

"Understood!" Sudo thumped his chest.

Ayanokoji had remained silent. Hanyu looked at him. "Ayanokoji, what are your thoughts?"

Ayanokoji took a sip of his coffee and said plainly, "I'm wondering why Ryuen would publicize this list."

"Publicize?" Everyone was taken aback.

"He let Ibuki see this list, and then Ibuki told us," Ayanokoji said. "Don't you think it's too coincidental?"

Hanyu Was Stunned. Ayanokoji was right, this was too much of a coincidence.

"You mean..."

"It might be a trap," Ayanokoji said. "Ryuen deliberately let Ibuki see the list, making us focus our attention on these four people. Then his real target is someone else."

Someone else? Hanyu thought quickly. The list included Karuizawa, Kushida, Hirata, and Horikita—four Core Members. Besides them, who else was worth Ryuen's attention?

Yukimura? Sudo? Sakura? Hasebe? Or...

He suddenly thought of someone.

"Ayanokoji," he looked at Ayanokoji, "you..."

Ayanokoji nodded slightly. "It's possible. I'm the most Inconspicuous one, the easiest to overlook. If Ryuen's real target is me..."

Everyone looked at each other.

"But why you?" Sudo asked. "You don't usually attract much attention."

"Precisely because I don't attract attention, I'm the best target," Ayanokoji said. "If something happened to me, you wouldn't immediately suspect Ryuen. By the time you realized it, it would be too late."

This analysis was terrifying. If it were true, Ryuen's Methods were even more sinister than they imagined.

"Then what should we do?" Hirata asked.

Hanyu looked at Ayanokoji. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Ayanokoji thought for a moment and said, "Turn the Tables."

"What do you mean?"

"Let them think we've taken the bait," Ayanokoji said. "Focus our attention on those four people, making Ryuen believe his plan is succeeding. Then, we'll secretly keep an eye on the real target."

He paused. "Which is me."

Everyone fell into Silence. This plan was too risky.

"But..." Karuizawa hesitated. "If Ayanokoji were to really get hurt..."

"I won't get hurt," Ayanokoji said. "Because I'll be prepared in Advance."

When he said this, his Tone was calm and confident. That confidence wasn't faked; it came from the heart.

Hanyu looked at him, a complex emotion welling up inside. Ayanokoji Kiyonaga, this mysterious person, how many secrets did he hide?

"Alright," he finally said. "We'll do as Ayanokoji says."

He looked around. "From today on, the superficial protection will continue as usual. But in secret, we'll keep a closer watch on Ayanokoji. If Ryuen dares to make a move, we'll make sure he never returns."

Everyone nodded.

After the meeting concluded, everyone left one by one. Ayanokoji was the last to go. As he walked to the door, he looked back at Hanyu.

"Hanyu."

"Hm?"

"Thank you for believing in me."

Hanyu looked at him and smiled.

"You're Welcome. Because you are my companion."

Ayanokoji froze for a moment, then nodded slightly and disappeared outside the door.

Hanyu stood alone in the room, looking at the night scenery outside the window.

A new storm was about to arrive.

But he was ready.