Guardian in the Dark

Friday night, the moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, plunging the entire campus into deep darkness.

Nine p.m., most students had already returned to their dorms, preparing to rest. But in a certain room on the second floor of the Boys' Dormitory, a secret conversation was underway.

"Is everything arranged?" Ryuen Sho leaned against the window, a sinister smile on his face.

"It's arranged." Standing before him was a boy in casual clothes—Class C's Ishizaki Daichi. "Tomorrow afternoon at three, behind the Old School Building. That place is remote, nobody usually goes there."

"Good." Ryuen nodded. "What about Ayanokoji Kiyonaga?"

"I have people watching him," Ishizaki said. "He goes to the Convenience Store for coffee at this time every day, then walks around the Sports Field alone. Tomorrow will be the same."

Ryuen's smile deepened. "Then proceed as planned. Tomorrow at three p.m., when he passes the Old School Building, create an 'accident'."

"What kind of accident?"

"For example..." Ryuen paused. "A brick falling from upstairs."

Ishizaki's expression shifted. "This... won't it be too dangerous?"

"Don't worry, it won't smash him to death," Ryuen said. "It'll just injure him a bit, send him to the hospital for a few days. By the time he returns, the Special Exam will be over."

Ishizaki was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded. "Understood."

"Go," Ryuen waved his hand. "Remember, don't leave any evidence."

After Ishizaki left, Ryuen stood alone by the window, gazing at the Night Scenery outside.

"Ayanokoji Kiyonaga..." he murmured. "Let me see, what exactly is so special about you."

At the Same Time, on the third floor of the Boys' Dormitory, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga's Room.

He hadn't turned on the lights, just sat by the window, looking out at the night. Moonlight occasionally spilled through the Gap in the clouds, illuminating his calm face.

The Mobile Phone vibrated. It was a message:

"Ryuen plans to make a move on you tomorrow at three p.m. Behind the Old School Building. Be careful. --Observer"

Ayanokoji finished reading, deleted the message, and continued to gaze out the window.

Just as he expected. Ryuen's real target was him.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Hanyu:

"Tomorrow at three p.m., behind the Old School Building. Ryuen is making a move. Don't come, I have my own way. --Ayanokoji"

After sending it, he put away his phone, Stood Up, and walked to the Desk. He opened the drawer and took out a small box.

The box contained a pen—not an ordinary pen, but a recording pen. This was something he had prepared long ago.

"Ryuen..." he said in a low voice, "If you want to play, I'll play with you."

Saturday, 2:50 PM, behind the Old School Building.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga walked alone on the path leading to the convenience store. He was holding a can of coffee, his expression as plain as ever, as if he knew nothing of what was about to happen.

As he walked to the base of the Old School Building, he suddenly stopped and looked up.

On the third floor, a window was open. The curtain fluttered gently in the wind.

He continued walking forward. As he reached the building, a noise suddenly came from above—

A brick fell from the sky, smashing directly towards him!

Ayanokoji dodged to the side, and the brick grazed his shoulder before smashing onto the ground with a dull thud.

"Tsk," he said softly, "His aim is terrible."

He looked up towards the third floor. By the window, a figure flashed past and disappeared behind the curtain.

Ayanokoji crouched down and picked up the brick. It was wrapped in cloth, clearly intended to reduce any marks. He put the brick into the bag he was carrying and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

After walking about ten meters, he took out his mobile phone and sent a message to Hanyu:

"It's fine. It's been solved. --Ayanokoji"

After sending the message, he took a sip of coffee and continued walking towards the convenience store.

Everything was as usual.

4 PM, third floor of the Boys Dormitory, Ryuen Sho's room.

Ishizaki rushed in, his face pale.

"R-Ryuen... it failed!"

Ryuen's expression instantly turned grim: "What do you mean?"

"Ayanokoji dodged it!" Ishizaki said, "When the brick fell, he suddenly dodged to the side, as if... as if he knew it was going to fall!"

Ryuen's pupils contracted slightly. Knew it was going to fall? How was that possible?

"Was he injured?"

"No," Ishizaki shook his head. "Completely unharmed. He picked up the brick, looked at it, and then left."

Ryuen fell silent. He walked to the window, gazing out at the campus, not speaking for a long time.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga... Who exactly was that person?

He recalled the words written on the file Nagumo had given him—"Extremely dangerous, direct conflict is advised against."

Perhaps Nagumo's warning was correct.

But he wouldn't give up. One failure, and there would be a next time. Two failures, and there would be a third.

He refused to believe Ayanokoji Kiyonaga was truly that amazing.

Five in the afternoon, Boys' Dormitory, Second Floor, Hanyu Xiuyi's Room.

Ayanokoji sat on a chair, the brick placed before him. Hanyu, Horikita, and Hirata were gathered around, their expressions serious.

"This is the evidence?" Hanyu asked.

"Mm," Ayanokoji nodded. "Fingerprints should be extractable from it."

"But..." Hirata hesitated. "Even if there are fingerprints, can it prove Ryuen instigated it?"

"No," Ayanokoji said. "But it can prove someone wanted to harm me."

He opened his mobile phone and played a recording. The clear voices of Ishizaki and Ryuen came from the recording—

"Tomorrow afternoon at three, when he passes the Old School Building, create an 'accident'."

"What kind of accident?"

"For example... a brick falling from upstairs."

After listening, everyone's faces changed.

"You, when did you record that?" Sudo widened his eyes.

"Prepared in advance," Ayanokoji said plainly. "I knew they would make a move, so I placed recording equipment near the Old School Building."

Hanyu looked at him, a complex emotion surging in his heart. How much had this person prepared in advance?

"With this recording," Horikita said, "we can report Ryuen."

"It's not time yet," Ayanokoji shook his head. "This recording can only prove Ishizaki's involvement, not directly Ryuen's. Moreover, if we report him now, they might destroy the evidence."

"Then what do we do?" Sudo asked.

"Wait," Ayanokoji said. "Wait for their next move."

"Next move?" Hirata was stunned. "They're coming again?"

"Yes," Ayanokoji nodded. "Someone like Ryuen won't give up after one failure. He'll only become more desperate."

He looked at Hanyu. "So, we need to be better prepared."

Hanyu stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Okay. We'll do as you say."

He looked around. "From today on, every one of us needs to be on high alert. Ryuen's next target could be anyone."

Everyone nodded.

Outside the window, the sunset was sinking below the horizon, painting the sky a fiery red.

New battles still lay ahead.

But they were ready.