Game Upgrade

The cicadas sang cheerfully in the treetops outside, as if telling the world how passionate summer was.

As soon as school let out that afternoon, Ayanokoji hurried to the Special Building with Zhuge Linghao in tow.

Several cameras and a bottle of glue were scattered across the table. Zhuge Linghao and Ayanokoji stared at each other.

Before school let out, Ayanokoji and Horikita had told Zhuge and Kushida about their plan.

Now, the first thing Zhuge Linghao and Ayanokoji had to do was install the cameras on the walls or ceiling.

The question was, who would install them?

Zhuge Linghao asked Ayanokoji, "How tall are you?"

Ayanokoji replied, "176 centimeters. Why?"

Zhuge Linghao grinned. "Perfect. I'm 174, so you're taller than me. You install the cameras!"

"..."

Ayanokoji didn't bother arguing. He silently picked up the tools and got to work.

Zhuge Linghao went to an empty classroom, carried over some desks and chairs, and helped Ayanokoji with the task.

The two were drenched in sweat by the time Horikita and Kushida finally arrived.

Horikita took up positions around the room to survey the area, making sure the cameras would cover the entire crime scene without any blind spots.

Her eyes gleamed with intelligence as she confidently told everyone, "Everything's ready. Now we just wait for the fish to bite."

In Class 1-C, the green-haired Ishizaki Daichi stared silently at the text message on his phone.

Beside him, the flat-top Kondo asked, "What do you think, Ishizaki? Are we going or not?"

Yewu, who had medium-length hair, added, "Yeah. Should we ask Ryuen first?"

Green-haired Ishizaki Daichi put away his phone and glanced toward Ryuen. "No need."

Three students from Class 1-C walked up the stairs of the Special Building, chatting as they went.

"It's so hot."

"I wonder why Kushida asked us to come here."

"Maybe she's going to confess to me?"

"Yeah, right. In your dreams!"

Suddenly, four figures appeared in the Class 1-C students' line of sight.

Green-haired Ishizaki said sternly, "Why are you here? Kushida, care to explain?"

Ayanokoji stepped forward. "I asked Kushida to send you a text and trick you into coming here."

Ishizaki Daichi was annoyed. Feeling like they'd been made fools of, he glared at Ayanokoji. "What's the meaning of this?"

Ayanokoji replied calmly, "You wouldn't have given me the time of day otherwise. We want to talk to you face-to-face."

Ishizaki Daichi shoved his hands into his pockets. "Listen up. Sudo was the one who called us out, and then he and Zhuge beat us up! That's what happened! Just accept your punishment. See you."

Horikita's cool voice rang out. "Are you sure that's what you want? If you leave now, you'll regret it for the rest of your lives."

The three weren't swayed at all. They still turned to leave.

Horikita looked up and said, "Hey, look. What's that?"

The three students from Class C turned back and followed her gaze. Their expressions clearly faltered.

With the air of a queen, Horikita asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so panicked?"

Horikita pressed them. "There's a science lab in the Special Building that stores plenty of highly toxic chemicals. Isn't it perfectly normal for there to be cameras?"

Ishizaki Daichi retorted, "Wait. If the cameras really caught something, wouldn't that prove your innocence even if you did nothing? Why bother coming here to tell us?"

Standing a few steps higher, Ayanokoji said, "After this violent incident, both sides will face severe punishment. Whatever the reason, Sudo and Zhuge did hit you."

Ishizaki Daichi tried his best to stay calm. "But the footage would be bad for you, too!"

Ayanokoji put one hand in his pocket. "Maybe. Sudo and Zhuge will get some kind of punishment, since they both got physical."

Ayanokoji walked down a few steps. "But the three of you will probably be expelled. You spread extremely damaging rumors and caused panic throughout the school. Your expulsion is inevitable."

Yewu, the one with medium-length hair, waved an arm. "Then why hasn't the school said anything?"

Ayanokoji walked closer and looked Yewu in the eye. "Because the school is testing us, seeing if we can solve problems on our own. That's why they gave us a week to deal with this."

Yewu was at a loss for words. His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground.

He murmured in despair, "No... No, I don't want to be expelled!"

Kondo's face turned pale. He looked at Ishizaki Daichi and said, "Ishizaki, let's turn ourselves in... The school might go easy on us. Maybe they'll let us stay enrolled!"

Ayanokoji looked at the three of them, trapped with no way out, and spoke without a hint of emotion. "Isn't it too early to jump to that conclusion? There's actually another way to save both our classes."

Horikita cut in. "That's right. We can make this incident disappear. It's simple: just withdraw your complaint, and we can pretend it never happened."

Ayanokoji's voice was quiet, yet seemed to carry an irresistible power.

"No one can be punished for something that never happened. If we agree on our stories in advance, the school won't be able to pursue the matter."

The three Class C students were drenched in cold sweat and were about to surrender.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Suddenly, a round of applause came from the stairwell below.

"Impressive, impressive! That was truly impressive!"

Ryuen climbed the stairs slowly, a wicked grin on his face.

Everyone was startled. Zhuge Linghao, in particular, felt that something was seriously wrong. What's going on? Did they buff this version of Ryuen?

Horikita Suzune asked coldly, "Ryuen, what are you doing here?"

Ryuen looked down on them all. "Hmph. Those three idiots looked suspicious, so I followed them. I didn't expect to hear such an incredible plan!"

Ryuen looked from one D Class student to the next and asked, "So, tell me. Who came up with this plan?"

Zhuge Linghao had learned to jump in with an answer. He casually pointed to the figure ahead of him. "It was Horikita. She's amazing. She'll definitely lead Class D past your Class C!"

Zhuge Linghao frantically winked at Ayanokoji, as if to say, How was that? How was that? Hurry up and praise me! I kept you, the mastermind, hidden!

Horikita Suzune looked at Zhuge Linghao, speechless. You don't have to talk just to prove you can.

But Ryuen's next words sent the four D Class students' hearts sinking.

Ryuen grinned broadly. "Unfortunately, your plan won't work on me. I personally checked out this place, and there aren't any cameras!"

Only then did the new trio of idiots catch on. Ishizaki Daichi immediately roared, "Damn it, you tricked us!"

Ryuen walked up to Zhuge Linghao with his hands in his pockets. He stared hungrily at Zhuge Linghao's ashen face, tilted his head, and spoke in a frenzy.

"Enjoy the last of your school days. You're getting expelled, no matter what. Not even Jesus can stop it—I said so!"