The Moment of Choice

On Tuesday night, the moon was hidden behind thick clouds, and the entire campus was shrouded in deep darkness.

Hanyu Xiuyi sat at his desk, two items spread out in front of him: Ayanokoji's voice recorder and the investigation report Miyabi Nagumo had given him. He had been staring at them for two whole hours.

The recorder contained a conversation between Ishizaki Daichi and Ryuen. Though it only indirectly proved that Ryuen had ordered the attack, it was enough to make Ishizaki confess. The investigation report, meanwhile, detailed every violation Ryuen had committed since enrolling. Each one had a date, a location, and witnesses—more than enough to get him expelled.

But the question was, where had this report come from? And why was Miyabi Nagumo helping him?

A faint sound came from outside the window. Hanyu looked up warily and saw someone climb over the balcony railing and in—it was Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"You..." Hanyu stared at him. "How did you get up here?"

"Climbed the drainpipe." Ayanokoji dusted off his clothes. "There's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

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

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

Ayanokoji sat down across from him, his expression as impassive as ever. "Then let me help you think it through."

He picked up Nagumo's investigation report, skimmed through it, and set it down.

"This report is real," he said. "I know about everything listed here."

Hanyu stared at him. "You do?"

"Yeah." Ayanokoji nodded. "I've been keeping an eye on Ryuen since I enrolled. I saw most of what he did. I just didn't have any proof."

He paused. "The fact that Nagumo managed to get this evidence means he has his own channels. But that doesn't make him a good person."

"What do you mean?"

"A good person helps you because you deserve their help," Ayanokoji said. "Nagumo is helping you because you're useful to him. He wants to use you to achieve his own goals."

Hanyu fell silent.

"But you have to deal with Ryuen," Ayanokoji continued. "He hurt Karuizawa, he hurt Kushida, and he hurt all of Class D. If you don't make him pay, he'll keep acting like he can do whatever he wants."

He looked Hanyu in the eye. "So the question isn't whether to go after Ryuen. It's how."

"You mean..."

"Use both pieces of evidence," Ayanokoji said. "Make Nagumo's report your primary evidence and use your recording to support it. That way, you can bring Ryuen down and show Nagumo that you're willing to work with him—but only for now."

Hanyu considered the idea. It could work. He could get rid of the threat Ryuen posed while keeping Nagumo on his side and buying himself time.

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

"He won't," Ayanokoji said. "He doesn't want a puppet. He wants an ally—someone who can speak to him as an equal. If you show him enough strength and intelligence, he'll respect you."

Hanyu looked at him. "Why do you know so much about him?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds before answering. "Because he and I are the same kind of person."

Hanyu stared at him.

"We were both made," Ayanokoji said softly. "He was made to rule, and I was made to be a tool. But at our core, we both know how to read people and use the rules to our advantage."

He looked Hanyu in the eye. "But you're different from us. You have something we don't."

"What?"

"Sincerity," Ayanokoji said. "You genuinely care about your friends and genuinely want to protect them. That sincerity is your weakness, but it's also your greatest strength."

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

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

Hanyu took a deep breath, then nodded.

"I have. Tomorrow, I'll go see Nagumo."

At three on Wednesday afternoon, in the Student Council Office.

Hanyu Xiuyi sat across from Miyabi Nagumo again. This time, he looked much calmer than he had during their previous meeting.

"Made up your mind?" Nagumo asked with a smile.

"I have," Hanyu said. "I'm willing to work with you."

Nagumo's smile widened. "Excellent. I knew you'd make the right choice."

"But I have two conditions," Hanyu said.

Nagumo raised an eyebrow. "What are they?"

"First, I'll handle Ryuen," Hanyu said. "I'll use the evidence you provided, but I'll decide what happens to him in the end."

Nagumo thought it over, then nodded. "Fine. My goal wasn't to go after Ryuen anyway. I just wanted you to owe me a favor."

"Second," Hanyu continued, "our cooperation is limited to dealing with a common enemy. I won't help you go after other classes, and I won't do anything that goes against my conscience."

Nagumo watched him for a few seconds, then smiled.

"You're a fascinating person, Hanyu." He chuckled. "All right, I agree. So, can you tell me how you plan to deal with Ryuen now?"

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

"These two things are enough to get Ryuen expelled," he said. "But I'm not going to do that."

Nagumo raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because expulsion would be too easy on him." Hanyu's gaze turned sharp. "I want him to watch everything he cares about slip away, one thing at a time."

Nagumo stared at him, then burst out laughing.

"Good! Very good!" He slapped the table. "I knew I was right about you, Hanyu Xiuyi!"

He stood and walked over to Hanyu, holding out his hand. "Then we'll do it your way. I'll give you my full support."

Hanyu shook his hand. "Thanks."

They exchanged smiles. There was understanding and admiration in them, as well as the wariness of two people testing each other.

On Thursday morning, in the Class D classroom.

When Hanyu Xiuyi walked into the classroom, he noticed something was off. Everyone was looking at him, their expressions complicated.

"What's going on?" he asked.

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

"What kind of post?"

"It's about Ryuen," Hirata said. "It exposes everything he's done. Threatening classmates, bribing students, setting traps, hurting Karuizawa... It's all laid out in detail. There are recordings and photos, too."

Hanyu stared at him. He hadn't done anything yet. Who was behind it?

He hurried to the computer and opened the school forum. A post pinned at the top of the page immediately caught his eye:

[EXCLUSIVE EXPOSÉ] Class C's Ryuen Kakeru: The True Face of a School Bully

Below the title was a long list of Ryuen's misdeeds. Every one came with evidence—recordings, photos, and witness statements. The post was even more detailed than the investigation report Nagumo had given him.

The comments section had exploded. Some people were furious, others were shocked, and some couldn't believe it. Students from Class C were leaving comments, saying Ryuen had threatened them, too. In no time, Ryuen had become the enemy of the entire school.

As Hanyu stared at the post, a name flashed through his mind.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

He turned to look at the corner of the room. Ayanokoji was still in his seat, reading a book, his expression as impassive as ever.

But when he saw Hanyu looking, Ayanokoji glanced up and nodded.

In that instant, Hanyu understood everything.

At ten that morning, outside the principal's office.

Ryuen Kakeru was escorted inside by several teachers. His face was livid, his eyes filled with anger and resentment. As he passed Hanyu, he stopped.

"Was this your doing?"

Hanyu looked at him and calmly replied, "No."

Ryuen stared at him.

"But I know who did it," Hanyu continued. "And I agree with what he did."

Ryuen stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. It was a bitter smile.

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

He turned and walked into the office. The door closed behind him.

Hanyu stood there, motionless for a long time.

At two that afternoon, the school announced its decision.

Ryuen Kakeru was ordered to leave the school, effective immediately. Ishizaki Daichi was suspended for a month for participating in rule-breaking, and all of his Personal Points were deducted. Due to poor management, Class C lost 500 Class Points, fell below Class D, and became the new last-place class.

The news sent shockwaves through the entire school.

The people in the Class D classroom remained silent for a long time. Then someone started clapping. The applause grew louder and louder until it filled the entire room.

Karuizawa Kei was crying. Kushida Kikyo held her and cried, too. Sudo Ken's eyes were red as he pounded the desk. Hirata Yousuke tilted his head back to hold back his tears. Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses, his fingers trembling slightly.

Horikita Suzune sat at her desk, her black hair neatly draped over her shoulders, her expression still composed. But on closer inspection, the corners of her lips had lifted just a little.

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

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga walked over and stood beside him.

"Was it you?" Hanyu asked.

"Yeah." Ayanokoji nodded.

"Why?"

"Because you said you wanted to make him pay," Ayanokoji said. "I thought this was the best way."

Hanyu turned to look at him. For once, a rare trace of warmth showed on his usually impassive face.

"Thank you, Ayanokoji."

"You're welcome."

They exchanged smiles. The light of the setting sun fell on them, stretching their shadows long across the floor.

Outside the window, the campus was bathed in gold.