An Unexpected Event

Monday morning, the moment Hanyu Xiuyi stepped into the classroom, he sensed something was off. A few girls were huddled around Karuizawa Kei's desk, whispering, while Hirata Yousuke and some boys stood by the window with grim expressions.

"What happened?" Hanyu Xiuyi asked Yukimura Teruhiko as he walked over.

"Karuizawa's personal belongings were vandalized." Yukimura pushed up his glasses. "Her pencil case, textbooks, and a lipstick she really liked—all slashed up."

Hanyu Xiuyi frowned. "When did it happen?"

"Probably over the weekend." Yukimura said. "She noticed it yesterday when she came to grab something, but didn't think much of it—thought it was an accident. When she checked more carefully today, it was clear it was deliberate."

Hanyu Xiuyi walked toward Karuizawa Kei's seat. The girls stepped aside slightly when they saw him coming.

"Karuizawa, can I take a look?"

Karuizawa Kei's eyes were a bit red, but she still nodded. Hanyu Xiuyi examined the damaged items—the deep scratches on the pencil case were clearly made with something sharp; several pages had been torn out of the textbooks; the lipstick was snapped in half.

"Any clues at the scene?" he asked.

Kushida Kikyo spoke quietly. "We checked. The doors and windows were locked, no signs of forced entry."

"Who has keys?"

"Chabashira-sensei, Hirata-kun as class rep has one, and then..." Kushida hesitated. "Three keys were issued when we enrolled. I don't know who has the last one."

Hirata Yousuke walked over. "The last one should be with the class committee, but we haven't officially elected one yet."

So the pool of people with keys was small. But that didn't rule out someone getting in through other means.

"Should we report it to the teacher?" Hirata asked.

"Wait a bit." Hanyu Xiuyi said. "Don't let this blow up until we know what's going on. Karuizawa, have you had any conflicts with anyone recently?"

Karuizawa Kei shook her head. "Not really... I usually hang out with my friends."

But her eyes flickered as she spoke. Hanyu Xiuyi noticed that small detail.

"Here's what we'll do." Hanyu Xiuyi said. "I'll use my own points to buy you new stationery and textbooks first. We'll investigate this privately—don't let the other classes find out."

"But..." Karuizawa Kei started to refuse, but Hanyu Xiuyi had already pulled out his student ID.

"Is twenty thousand points enough?"

"That's way too much! You don't need to—"

"Just take it." Hanyu Xiuyi transferred the points. "Think of it as class cooperation. Also, from today on, everyone should keep an eye on their personal belongings. Lock the classroom door at all times."

After handling that, Hanyu Xiuyi returned to his seat. He noticed Ayanokoji Kiyonaga quietly reading a book, seemingly indifferent to the commotion around him.

But when Hanyu Xiuyi looked over, Ayanokoji happened to glance up. Their eyes met briefly. Ayanokoji gave a slight shake of his head, meaning "It wasn't me."

Hanyu Xiuyi nodded in acknowledgment. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Horikita Suzune: "Come to the library after class. Something to discuss."

During break time, Hanyu Xiuyi ran into Ryuen Sho from Class C in the hallway. Ryuen was leaning against the wall, talking to two of his lackeys. When he saw Hanyu Xiuyi, a meaningful smile spread across his face.

"Oh, Class D's Monster. Heard your class had some trouble?"

News traveled fast. Hanyu Xiuyi replied calmly, "Just a small matter."

"Small matter?" Ryuen laughed. "A girl's stuff getting wrecked isn't a small matter. Want me to help you look into it? I've got a wide network."

"No need."

"Don't be so cold." Ryuen took a few steps closer, lowering his voice. "Let me give you a tip—your class's keys? There's more than three."

Hanyu Xiuyi's pupils contracted slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Go find out for yourself." Ryuen patted his shoulder and walked off laughing.

Back in the classroom, Hanyu Xiuyi immediately found Hirata Yousuke. "Hirata, can we check the distribution records for the classroom keys?"

"We should be able to ask Chabashira-sensei." Hirata said. "What's wrong?"

"Ryuen hinted that our class might have more than three keys."

Hirata's expression turned serious. "I'll go ask right now."

Half an hour later, Hirata returned, looking grim.

"Chabashira-sensei said it really is three. One with her, one with me, and the last one..." He paused. "She gave it to Ayanokoji Kiyonaga."

Ayanokoji? Hanyu Xiuyi looked over at the quiet boy. He was reading, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.

But Hanyu Xiuyi remembered that morning, when Ayanokoji had shaken his head to indicate it wasn't him. Was that true or false?

During the afternoon club activity time, Hanyu Xiuyi finished his Shogi Club training early and headed to the library.

Horikita Suzune was already waiting for him.

"I heard about Karuizawa Kei." She cut straight to the point. "You suspect it was someone inside the class?"

"Highly likely." Hanyu Xiuyi said. "The doors and windows are intact. The people with keys are the most suspicious."

"Hirata, Ayanokoji, Chabashira-sensei." Horikita listed them. "Hirata wouldn't do it. Chabashira-sensei has no reason to. So that leaves Ayanokoji?"

"But he hinted this morning that it wasn't him."

"Hinting isn't the same as proof." Horikita Suzune said coldly. "Besides, the key is in his hands. He has the easiest access."

Hanyu Xiuyi thought it over. "What's the motive? Why would Ayanokoji target Karuizawa Kei's things?"

"Maybe it's not about Karuizawa Kei specifically, but about the class." Horikita said. "Destroying class unity, sowing suspicion. If the class falls into chaos, the special exam will fail."

The analysis made sense, but Hanyu Xiuyi still felt something was off. Why would Ayanokoji do this? He didn't seem particularly invested in class competition.

"There's another possibility." Hanyu Xiuyi said. "The key was copied. Or someone stole it and put it back."

"Who had the chance?"

"Anyone." Hanyu Xiuyi said. "Hirata and Ayanokoji can't watch the key twenty-four hours a day. If someone took it while they weren't looking..."

"We need to check the key usage log." Horikita Suzune said. "Chabashira-sensei should have a record book."

"I'll look into it."

After school, Hanyu Xiuyi arrived at the teacher's office. Chabashira Sae was grading assignments.

"Chabashira-sensei, about the classroom key..."

Chabashira Sae didn't look up. "Hirata already asked. Three keys—one for me, one for Hirata, one for Ayanokoji."

"I'd like to see the key borrowing log."

Chabashira Sae finally raised her head. "Why?"

"To investigate the damage to Karuizawa's belongings."

Chabashira Sae stared at him for a few seconds, then pulled a notebook from her drawer. "The log is here. You can look at it here, but you can't take it out."

Hanyu Xiuyi opened the notebook. The key borrowing records for the past two weeks were clear:

April 10: Hirata Yousuke borrowed, returned.

April 12: Ayanokoji Kiyonaga borrowed, returned.

April 15: Kushida Kikyo borrowed from Hirata, returned.

April 17: Yukimura Teruhiko borrowed from Ayanokoji, returned.

The records were complete. Each borrowing had a signature and return time. No one borrowed the key over the weekend.

"Was the classroom door locked over the weekend?" Hanyu Xiuyi asked.

"It should have been." Chabashira Sae said. "I check before leaving on Friday."

"Then is it possible... someone entered the classroom without borrowing the key, using another method?"

Chabashira Sae adjusted her glasses. "In theory, if a window wasn't properly closed, someone could climb in from outside. But the second floor is risky."

"I understand. Thank you, sensei."

Leaving the office, Hanyu Xiuyi reorganized his thoughts. The key borrowing log seemed fine. So the culprit either stole the key and returned it, or entered through a window.

He went back to the classroom and carefully inspected the windows. All the locks were intact, but one window's latch was a bit loose—if pushed hard, it might come undone.

"Find something?" A voice suddenly came from behind.

Hanyu Xiuyi turned around. It was Ayanokoji Kiyonaga.

"Checking the windows." Hanyu Xiuyi said directly. "About Karuizawa's incident, what do you think?"

Ayanokoji walked to the window and examined the latch too. "This lock is indeed not very secure. But climbing up from outside would require a ladder or good physical fitness."

"Who do you think did it?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a few seconds. "I'm not sure. But I don't think it's necessarily targeting Karuizawa Kei personally."

"What do you mean?"

"The items destroyed weren't valuable, but the psychological impact is significant." Ayanokoji said flatly. "Karuizawa Kei is popular among the girls. This incident will make them uneasy, which will affect the class atmosphere."

Similar to Horikita's analysis. Hanyu Xiuyi asked, "You think the goal is to destroy class unity?"

"Possibly." Ayanokoji said. "Or it could be a test."

"A test?"

"Testing the class's response." Ayanokoji looked at him. "If someone provokes like this, how will the class react? Will they suspect each other, or unite?"

That was a unique angle. Hanyu Xiuyi thought it over. "You mean this might be a rehearsal? Preparation for the special exam?"

"Maybe." Ayanokoji said. "Similar psychological tactics might appear in the special exam."

That made sense. If this was a probe from another class, how they responded mattered.

"Thanks for the analysis." Hanyu Xiuyi said.

"You're welcome." Ayanokoji paused. "Also, about the key... mine has been on me the whole time. I didn't lend it to anyone."

He was proactively clearing suspicion. Hanyu Xiuyi nodded. "I believe you."

Though he couldn't fully trust him yet, suspecting Ayanokoji was pointless now. What mattered more was finding the real culprit and the purpose behind it.

That evening, as Hanyu Xiuyi was organizing all the information he had gathered that day in his dorm, his phone rang. It was Horikita Suzune.

"I found something." Her voice was serious. "Karuizawa Kei had a conflict with a girl from Class C during the first week of enrollment."

"What kind of conflict?"

"I don't know the specifics, but apparently it started over a dispute while queuing at a convenience store," Horikita said. "That girl is one of Ryuen's followers."

Ryuen? Hanyu Xiuyi recalled Ryuen's meaningful smile from this morning. If he had instigated it, then it all made sense—it would both retaliate against Karuizawa Kei and undermine Class D's unity.

But what about evidence?

"Is there evidence?"

"No," Horikita said. "Just rumors. And even if there were evidence, the school wouldn't intervene—as long as it doesn't involve violence or threats, this kind of petty sabotage would at most warrant a verbal warning."

That was true. The school's rules only prohibited violence and coercion; it was hard to hold anyone accountable for this kind of prankish destruction.

"So what do we do?" Horikita asked.

"First, strengthen our guard," Hanyu Xiuyi said. "Starting tomorrow, arrange for people to be on duty in the classroom on rotation, making sure the doors and windows are locked. Don't leave any valuables in the classroom."

"That's just treating the symptoms, not the root cause."

"I know," Hanyu Xiuyi said. "But we don't have evidence right now, so we can't act rashly. The Special Exam is coming up; we can't afford a direct confrontation with Class C at this time."

Horikita was silent for a few seconds. "Fine. But I think we should prepare a counterattack."

"Of course," Hanyu Xiuyi said. "But not now. After the Special Exam, we'll make Ryuen pay."

After hanging up, Hanyu Xiuyi leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

Ryuen's provocation had come sooner than he had anticipated. This meant Class C already saw Class D as a threat and had begun taking action.

How he responded would affect the class's morale and future.

He couldn't afford to be weak, but he couldn't be impulsive either.

He needed to find a strategy that would both uphold the class's dignity and not disrupt the overall plan.

He opened his notebook and began drafting a plan.

The night was deep, but his thoughts continued.