The Moment of Choice

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

Hanyu Xiuyi sat at his desk, two documents spread before him—one was Ayanokoji's voice recorder, the other was Nagumo Miyabi's investigation report. He had been staring at these two items for a full two hours.

The voice recorder contained a conversation between Ishizaki Daichi and Ryuen. Although it could only indirectly prove Ryuen's instigation, it was enough to make Ishizaki confess. The investigation report detailed all of Ryuen's violations since his enrollment, with every incident including the date, location, and witnesses, enough to get him expelled.

But the question was, how did this investigation report come about? And why would Nagumo Miyabi help him?

A faint sound came from outside the window. Hanyu's head snapped up alertly. He saw a figure climb over the balcony—it was Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"You..." Hanyu was stunned. "How did you get up here?"

"Climbed the drainpipe," Ayanokoji said plainly, dusting off his clothes. "There's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

Ayanokoji walked to the desk and glanced at the two documents. "Still hesitating?"

"Yeah," Hanyu nodded. "I don't know who to trust."

Ayanokoji sat down opposite him, his expression as plain as ever. "Then let me help you analyze it."

He picked up Nagumo's investigation report, quickly skimmed through it, and then put it down.

"This report is real," he said. "I know about every incident recorded in it."

Hanyu was stunned. "You know?"

"Mhm," Ayanokoji nodded. "Since I enrolled, I've been observing Ryuen. I saw most of the things he did. I just didn't have the evidence."

He paused. "The fact that Nagumo could obtain this evidence shows he indeed has his own channels. But that doesn't mean he's a good person."

"What do you mean?"

"A good person helps you because you're worth helping," Ayanokoji said. "Nagumo helps you because you're useful. He wants to utilize you to achieve his own goals."

Hanyu fell silent.

"But you have to deal with Ryuen," Ayanokoji continued. "He hurt Karuizawa, he hurt Kushida, he hurt the entire Class D. If you don't make him pay, he'll continue to be arrogant."

He looked into Hanyu's eyes. "So, the question isn't whether or not to deal with Ryuen, but how to deal with Ryuen."

"You mean..."

"Use both pieces of evidence together," Ayanokoji said. "Use Nagumo's investigation report as the main evidence, and your recording as supplementary. This way, you can bring down Ryuen and also let Nagumo know that you're willing to cooperate with him—but only temporarily."

Hanyu pondered. This plan was indeed feasible. It could eliminate the threat of Ryuen, stabilize Nagumo, and buy him time.

"But..." he hesitated. "What if Nagumo uses this to blackmail me later?"

"He won't," Ayanokoji said. "Because what he wants isn't a puppet, but an ally. An ally who can converse with him as an equal. If you show enough strength and wisdom, he'll respect you."

Hanyu looked at him. "Why do you understand him so well?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Because he and I are the same kind of people."

Hanyu was stunned.

"We were both cultivated," Ayanokoji's voice was very light. "Except he was cultivated to be a ruler, and I was cultivated to be a tool. But essentially, we both know how to see through people's hearts, how to utilize rules."

He looked into Hanyu's eyes. "But you are different from us. You have something we don't."

"What is it?"

"Sincerity," Ayanokoji said. "You genuinely care about your companions, you genuinely want to protect them. This sincerity is your weakness, but also your greatest strength."

Hanyu fell silent. After a long time, he said, "Thank you, Ayanokoji."

"You're welcome," Ayanokoji stood up. "Have you decided?"

Hanyu took a Deep Breath, then nodded.

"I've decided. Tomorrow, I'll go see Nagumo."

Wednesday afternoon, 3 PM, the student council office.

Hanyu Xiuyi sat opposite Nagumo Miyabi once again. This time, his expression was calmer than the last.

"Have you considered it?" Nagumo asked with a smile.

"I've considered it," Hanyu said. "I'm willing to cooperate with you."

Nagumo's smile deepened. "Very good. I knew you would make the right choice."

"But there are two conditions," Hanyu said.

Nagumo raised an eyebrow. "What conditions?"

"First, Ryuen's matter, I'll handle it," Hanyu said. "I'll use the evidence you provide, but how he's dealt with in the end, I'll decide."

Nagumo thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. My goal isn't to deal with Ryuen anyway, but to make you owe me a favor."

"Second," Hanyu continued, "our cooperation is limited to dealing with common enemies. I won't help you deal with Other Classes, nor will I help you do things that go against your conscience."

Nagumo stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Classmate Hanyu, you are truly interesting," he said. "Alright, I agree. So, can you tell me now how you plan to deal with Ryuen?"

Hanyu took out the investigation report and the voice recorder from his pocket and placed them on the table.

"These two items are enough to get Ryuen expelled," he said. "But I won't do that."

Nagumo raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because expulsion is too good for him." Hanyu's eyes sharpened. "I want him to watch with his own eyes as everything he cares about is lost, one by one."

Nagumo was stunned, then burst into laughter.

"Good! Good!" he exclaimed, slapping the table. "Hanyu Xiuyi, I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

He stood up, walked over to Hanyu, and extended his hand. "Then, we'll do it your way. I will support you with all my might."

Hanyu clasped his hand. "Thank you."

The two of them exchanged a smile. In that smile, there was understanding, admiration, and a cautious probing of each other.

Thursday morning, Class D classroom.

When Hanyu Xiuyi walked into the classroom, he found the atmosphere somewhat off. Everyone was looking at him with complex expressions.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Hirata Yousuke walked over, his expression grave. "Hanyu, someone posted an article on the school forum."

"What article?"

"It's about Ryuen," Hirata said. "It exposed everything he's done. Threatening classmates, bribing students, planning traps, hurting Karuizawa... it's all written clearly. There are also recordings and photographs."

Hanyu was stunned. He hadn't acted yet, so who was it?

He quickly walked to the computer and opened the school forum. On the homepage, a pinned post was prominently displayed:

[Exclusive Exposure] Class C's Ryuen Sho's History of Sin -- The True Face of a School Bully

Below the post, Ryuen's various crimes were listed densely. Each item had evidence – recordings, photographs, witness testimonies. It was even more detailed than the investigation report Nagumo had given him.

The comment section had exploded. Some were angry, some were shocked, some couldn't believe it. Students from Class C left messages saying they had also been threatened by Ryuen. In an instant, Ryuen became an enemy of the entire school.

Hanyu looked at the post, and a name flashed through his mind.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

He turned his head to look at the corner. That person was still sitting at his seat, holding a book, his expression as plain as ever.

But as he looked over, Ayanokoji slightly looked up and nodded at him.

In that instant, Hanyu understood everything.

Ten o'clock in the morning, outside the principal's office.

Ryuen Sho was led inside by several teachers. His face was ashen, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger. As he walked past Hanyu, he stopped.

"Did you do it?"

Hanyu looked at him and said calmly, "I'm not."

Ryuen was stunned.

"But I know who did," Hanyu continued. "And I agreed with him doing it."

Ryuen stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed. The smile was bitter.

"Hanyu Xiuyi, you win," he said. "But remember, I didn't lose to you. I lost to everyone."

He turned and walked into the office, the door closing behind him.

Hanyu stood in place for a long time, not moving.

Two o'clock in the afternoon, the school announced the disciplinary results.

Ryuen Sho was expelled, effective immediately. Ishizaki Daichi, for participating in the violation, was suspended for one month and had all his Personal Points deducted. Class C, for poor management, had 500 Class Points deducted, dropping them below Class D to become the new last place.

When the news spread, the entire school was shaken.

In the Class D classroom, everyone was silent for a long time. Then, someone started clapping, and the applause grew louder and louder, eventually filling the entire classroom.

Karuizawa Kei cried. Kushida Kikyo hugged her, also shedding tears. Sudo Ken's eyes were red as he forcefully slapped the desk. Hirata Yousuke tilted his head back, not letting his tears flow down. Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses, his fingers trembling slightly.

Horikita Suzune sat at her seat, her black hair neatly draped over her shoulders, her expression still calm. But if one looked carefully, the corner of her mouth had turned up slightly.

Hanyu Xiuyi stood by the window, looking out at the campus. Sunlight fell upon him, warm and bright.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga walked up to him and stood side by side.

"Was it you?" Hanyu asked.

"Yeah," Ayanokoji nodded.

"Why?"

"Because you said he had to pay the price," Ayanokoji said. "I thought this was the best way."

Hanyu turned his head to look at him. On that always plain face, there was now a rare trace of gentleness.

"Thank you, Ayanokoji."

"You're welcome."

The two looked at each other and smiled. The afterglow of the sunset cast upon them, stretching their shadows long.

Outside the window, the campus was bathed in golden light.