Preparations Before Everything Begins

The math class had been going on for ten minutes. The blackboard was covered in dense, intricate formulas, and the teacher was droning on at the podium, but Shangguan Che's mind had already flown to the time after school.

For him, the most important thing coming up was accompanying Sakura to report the electronics store clerk who had been harassing her.

Shangguan Che rested his chin on his hand, secretly observing his classmates while pondering the distribution of homeroom teachers: "With my intelligence and that bit of 'extraordinary ability,' I can always sense that the school assigns homeroom teachers based on the quality of the class. The best teacher must be in Class A."

This thought wasn't baseless; since the start of the semester, Shangguan Che had already noticed the clues.

Among the four first-year classes, only the homeroom teachers of Class C and Class D were constantly making suspicious moves.

Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami, indulged Ryuen Kakeru's violent behavior both openly and covertly, essentially turning "laissez-faire" into "complicity." Meanwhile, Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira, would frequently take the initiative to talk to Hirata, sometimes giving hints and other times posing difficult problems; she was clearly meddling in class affairs quite a bit.

In contrast, the homeroom teachers of Class A and Class B were the very models of "hands-off" management.

Especially Class B's teacher, Hoshinomiya; the scene from the last morning assembly still made Shangguan Che feel a mix of amusement and bewilderment when he thought about it.

Halfway through the morning assembly, Hoshinomiya had suddenly covered her mouth and retched, then vomited right there.

At the time, Shangguan Che had been startled, muttering to himself: "Is this teacher pregnant? Someone get her to a hospital! Vomiting like that isn't good for her health!"

But the next second, he saw the girl closest to Hoshinomiya show a look of disgust, while Ichinose calmly stood up to take charge of the situation. The students of Class B looked completely accustomed to it, without even a hint of nervousness.

Later, through online chats with Ichinose and his own observations, Shangguan Che finally realized with a start: "So, teacher Hoshinomiya was just hungover and felt like throwing up, and she did it right there in the classroom!"

The moment he confirmed the truth, he could only think that "the world is full of wonders" and "it turns out that in this world, teachers can be just as bizarre as the students."

It was precisely because he had seen through the different operating styles of the homeroom teachers that Shangguan Che decided to have Sakura report the matter to teacher Mashima of Class A.

After all, teacher Mashima was famously responsible, unlike teacher Chabashira who was always hiding things, or teacher Sakagami who loved playing petty tricks.

But the problem was, in such a fiercely competitive environment, not going to one's own homeroom teacher with a problem but instead seeking out a teacher from another class would inevitably raise suspicions.

However, Shangguan Che had already calculated everything: "This afternoon is a perfect opportunity! The homeroom teachers of Class C and Class D will both be attending the brawl incident adjudication meeting hosted by the Student Council after school. At that time, the teachers' office will most likely only have teacher Mashima from Class A and teacher Hoshinomiya from Class B."

He rubbed his nose, unable to help but chuckle: "With teacher Hoshinomiya's personality, she loves to have fun; she basically won't stay in the office after school. She might even be pestering teacher Chabashira again. Come to think of it, could those two be best friends?"

Thinking about it this way, the afternoon plan was foolproof: "After school, Sakura can report to the most responsible teacher, Mashima, and the harassment issue will surely be resolved easily."

Suddenly, Shangguan Che remembered something and quickly took out his phone during the break to send a message to Sakura: "Almost forgot to remind her to bring the evidence!"

[Sakura, can we go report it together this afternoon?] Shangguan Che specifically added an inquisitive tone; he didn't want to look like a "pressurer."

Within a few seconds, his phone vibrated, and Sakura's message popped up: [...Okay.]

Two short words, accompanied by a hesitant ellipsis; Shangguan Che could almost see her holding her phone nervously.

[Mm, I will be with you the whole time.] He replied quickly and added another sentence, [By the way, where have you kept the letters that person sent you?]

He hadn't found them in Sakura's desk or backpack earlier, and he had been muttering to himself: "She didn't throw them away, did she?"

[They are in my dorm room. I've kept them all together safely.]

Seeing this message, the heart that had been hanging in Shangguan Che's chest finally settled, and he quickly replied: [You did well, Sakura. Those letters are important evidence!]

After a pause, he typed another line, [How about we go back to the dorm to get the letters after school, and then head to the teachers' office?]

[I'll listen to you, Shangguan-san.]

[Then it's settled!] Finally, Shangguan Che added a word of encouragement: [Good luck!]

After sending the message, he silently added in his heart: "Lord Sakura, your subject will definitely 'fight to the death' for you!"

During the break, Hirata ran over in a hurry, pulling Shangguan Che aside to ask: "Shangguan, how exactly should I use the information you sent me?"

Shangguan Che scratched his head, calculating in his mind: "Although I know Ayanokoji is guiding Horikita in formulating a battle plan, and I know Horikita has written the plan in her notebook, and I even know Class C has barely made any preparations, I still feel like I only have 98% certainty. I still need to make one more backup plan."

He patted Hirata on the shoulder and said earnestly: "Hirata, if you don't know how to use that information during the meeting, or if it looks like we're about to lose, just read the content I sent you out loud at the adjudication meeting. You won't go wrong."

"So that's how it should be used! Thank you so much, Shangguan!" Hirata's eyes lit up, and he thanked him repeatedly.

"It's nothing." Shangguan Che waved his hand and reminded him again, "By the way, remember to help Sudo argue for a reduced sentence."

"A reduced sentence?" Hirata was stunned for a moment.

"It means lowering the severity of the punishment. A period of suspension is better than expulsion," Shangguan Che explained, "But this way, you'll have to help Sudo catch up on the schoolwork he missed."

Hirata nodded without hesitation: "It's fine. As long as no classmates are expelled, helping him catch up on some schoolwork is nothing."

"Actually, Shangguan, I still think it would be better if you came." Hirata finally voiced his preference.

"Sorry, I have other things to do this afternoon."

"It's okay, Shangguan's matters are important too. Then let me handle it."

Watching Hirata's determined expression, Shangguan Che prayed silently: "I hope Hirata can understand the meaning of that information when the time comes. I hope it's not that Ayanokoji and Horikita have given up on Sudo, and I hope they haven't discovered my 'visual surveillance'."

The latter was just a wild guess because Ayanokoji was the protagonist; I really hope that doesn't come true.

Before the bell rang for class, Shangguan Che received a message from Sakura containing the words she had edited for when she would make the report.

This was something he had specifically requested of Sakura; for things that Sakura feared, he always felt that "the more thorough the preparation, the better."

After school, Horikita, Ayanokoji, Sudo, and Hirata followed teacher Chabashira toward the classroom prepared by the Student Council to attend the adjudication meeting for the brawl. Shangguan Che and Sakura walked side-by-side on the way back to the dorms.

Just as they walked out of the school building, they saw teacher Hoshinomiya in the distance, arm-in-arm with Ichinose, walking forward while chatting and laughing.

Shangguan Che couldn't help but mutter: "Is this teacher Hoshinomiya dragging Ichinose to the adjudication meeting? Looking at this posture, I'm afraid Ichinose is going to be 'pestered' again." He mourned for Ichinose for three seconds in his heart.

Last night, both Hirata and Ichinose had told Shangguan Che about the temporary alliance between Class B and Class D. The specific content was very simple, and it could be summarized in four words.

"Mutual aid and assistance."

There wasn't even a clause for "non-interference."

Shangguan Che couldn't help but retort, "This alliance is way too sloppy. If just one high-level traitor appears, they might be able to cripple both classes."

However, complaints aside, now that they were allied, he could finally interact with the people from Class B in a legitimate and normal way.

But upon second thought, he couldn't help but laugh, "It seems that since school started, other than chatting with Sakura and Hirata in reality every day, I haven't really formed deep friendships with anyone else."

Last night, Ichinose had even asked Shangguan Che if he wanted to attend the disciplinary hearing, and he had truthfully told her that he had things to do and wouldn't be going.

Ichinose had stated that she would go, saying she might be able to help.

At the time, Shangguan Che had hesitated for three seconds before replying with words of gratitude.

After all, Ichinose was coming to help Class D, and as a member of Class D, it wouldn't be right not to thank her.

He had even specifically sent a teasing message: [You really are a perfect, kind-hearted angel, Ichinose. I am now expressing my gratitude to you on behalf of Sudo!]

Not long after, Ichinose's message came back, with a hint of shyness: [...I'm not that good.]

Thinking of this, Shangguan Che couldn't help but smile. He turned his head to look at Sakura beside him; she was looking down, clutching her bag straps tightly, clearly still feeling a bit nervous.

Shangguan Che gently patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, I'm here. Everything will go smoothly."

Sakura looked up, met Shangguan Che's firm gaze, and nodded heavily, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long. The path leading to the dormitory, though quiet, was filled with a warm strength.

Shangguan Che knew that the upcoming report wouldn't be smooth sailing, but as long as he could help Sakura get rid of her troubles, it would be worth any amount of trouble.

And Sakura also secretly made up her mind that this time she must summon her courage; she could not let Shangguan down again.