Game Update

The cicadas outside the window sang joyfully from the treetops, seemingly recounting the passion of Natsuhi.

Immediately after school ended in the afternoon, Ayanokoji dragged Zhuge Linghao in a hurry to the Special Building.

Several cameras and a bottle of glue were scattered across the table, and Zhuge Linghao and Ayanokoji were staring at each other in a standoff.

Before school let out that afternoon, Ayanokoji and Horikita had informed Zhuge and Kushida of their strategy.

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

Then came the question: who was going to install them?

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

Ayanokoji replied, "176, why?"

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

"..."

Ayanokoji didn't intend to argue; he silently picked up the tools and began to work.

Zhuge Linghao went to an empty classroom to fetch a desk and chairs, assisting Ayanokoji in completing the task.

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

Horikita stood in various spots to conduct a survey, ensuring that the cameras could capture the crime scene without any blind spots.

A gleam of intelligence flashed in her eyes as she said confidently to the group, "Everything is ready; we only need to wait for the fish to take the bait."

In Class C, Ishizaki Daichi, with his green hair, stared at the text message on his phone in silence.

Beside him, the buzz-cut Kondo said, "Big Brother Ishizaki, what do you think? Are we actually going?"

On the other side, the medium-long-haired Yewu added, "Yeah? Should we ask Big Brother Ryuen for instructions?"

Ishizaki Daichi put his phone away, glanced toward Ryuen, and said, "No need."

The three students from Class C walked up the stairs of the Special Building, chatting as they went.

"So hot, so hot."

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

"She isn't going to confess to me, is she?"

"No way, keep dreaming!"

Suddenly, four figures appeared in the line of sight of the three Class C students.

The green-haired Ishizaki said sternly, "Why are you here? Kushida, aren't you going to explain?"

Ayanokoji stepped forward and said, "I'm the one who had Kushida send the text to lure you here."

Ishizaki Daichi was somewhat angry; feeling toyed with, he stared into Ayanokoji's eyes and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

Ayanokoji said calmly, "If we didn't do this, you wouldn't have paid us any mind. We want to have a face-to-face talk with you."

Ishizaki Daichi shoved his hands into his pockets and said, "Listen up, we were called out by Sudo, and then we were beaten by him and Zhuge! That's the truth! You guys just accept your punishment! Goodbye."

Horikita's cold voice rang out: "Is that really okay? If you leave now, you will regret it for the rest of your lives."

The three were completely unaffected and still turned to leave.

Horikita looked toward the high ceiling and said, "Hey, look, what is that?"

The three from Class C turned back, following Horikita's gaze, and their expressions wavered significantly.

Horikita said with a queen-like air, "What's wrong? Why are you so panicked?"

Horikita pressed on, "There is a science lab in the Special Building that stores quite a few toxic chemicals; isn't it normal to have surveillance?"

Ishizaki Daichi retorted, "Wait, if the surveillance cameras really captured something, you could prove your innocence without doing anything at all. You didn't have to come here specifically to tell us!"

Ayanokoji stood on a higher step and said, "After this act of violence occurred, both sides would face severe sanctions. Regardless of the reason, Sudo and Zhuge did indeed hit you."

Ishizaki Daichi tried his best to remain calm and said, "Then the surveillance footage is unfavorable for you too!"

Ayanokoji stood with one hand in his pocket and said, "Perhaps. Sudo and Zhuge will receive a certain degree of punishment, after all, they were the ones who threw the punches."

Ayanokoji walked down a few steps and said, "However, the three of you would likely be expelled. You spread malicious rumors that caused widespread panic throughout the school; expulsion is inevitable."

The medium-long-haired Yewu waved his arm and said, "Then why hasn't the school said anything?"

Ayanokoji walked closer and looked the medium-long-haired Yewu in the eye, saying, "That is because the school is evaluating us. The school is testing whether we have the ability to solve problems independently, so they gave us a one-week buffer period."

The medium-long-haired Yewu was left speechless, his knees went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

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

The buzz-cut student turned pale and said to Ishizaki Daichi, "Big Brother Ishizaki, let's turn ourselves in... The school should show some leniency; maybe they'll let us keep our enrollment!"

Ayanokoji watched the three trapped in a dead end and said without a ripple of emotion, "Isn't it too early for you to reach that conclusion? Actually, there is one more way to save both of our classes at the same time."

Horikita interjected, "That's right. Just make this incident cease to exist. It's simple: as long as you withdraw your complaint, we will treat this as if it never happened."

Ayanokoji's voice was not loud, yet it seemed to carry an infinite, magical power.

"No one can convict someone of something that never happened. As long as we coordinate our stories in advance, the school naturally won't be able to pursue the matter any further."

The three students from Class C were drenched in cold sweat, on the verge of surrendering and admitting defeat.

"Clap, clap, clap. Clap, clap, clap..."

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

"Brilliant, brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

With a wicked grin, Ryuen walked slowly up the stairs.

Everyone was startled, especially Zhuge Linghao, who immediately felt that something was terribly wrong: What is going on? Has this version of Ryuen been buffed?

Horikita Suzune said coldly, "Ryuen, why are you here?"

Ryuen said arrogantly, "Hmph, I noticed those three idiots had a strange look in their eyes, so I followed them. I never expected to overhear such an astonishingly good plan!"

Ryuen scanned the four members of Class D back and forth and asked, "Tell me, who came up with this plan?"

Zhuge Linghao had already learned to jump the gun; he pointed carelessly at the figure in front of him and said, "It was Horikita! She's so amazing, she'll definitely lead our Class D to surpass your Class C!"

Zhuge Linghao winked frantically at Ayanokoji, as if to say: How about that? How about that? Hurry up and praise me! Hurry up and praise me! I've successfully kept you, the mastermind behind the scenes, hidden, haven't I?

Horikita Suzune looked at Zhuge Linghao with a speechless expression: No one will think you're mute if you don't talk!

However, Ryuen's next words caused the hearts of the four Class D students to sink to the bottom.

Ryuen grinned widely and said, "It's a pity that your plan is useless against me, because I personally scouted this location—there are no cameras here at all!"

The new generation trio of idiots finally realized what was happening, and Ishizaki Daichi roared, "Damn it, you dare to play us!"

Ryuen walked up to Zhuge Linghao with his hands in his pockets, staring hungrily at the pale-faced Zhuge Linghao. He tilted his head and said these words with a manic intensity.

"Enjoy your final days of school life. You are definitely getting expelled. Even Jesus can't stop it—I said so!"