Preparations for a Crack

The next day.

The atmosphere in Class D's classroom was somewhat strange.

Sakura Airi had returned.

She still sat in her usual corner, head lowered, her long bangs covering most of her face.

She looked no different from before.

But some people still keenly noticed the difference.

Her shoulders no longer carried that tense rigidity that seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

Though she was still timid, the bone-deep sense of panic had disappeared.

In its place was a grounded calm.

Her gaze would always drift uncontrollably toward a certain corner of the classroom.

Toward the boy resting his chin on one hand, staring out the window in boredom.

Natsume Yu.

"Hey, hey, look. Sakura actually came back."

Ike Kanji nudged Yamauchi Haruki beside him with his elbow and lowered his voice.

"Seriously? I thought she was going to drop out."

Yamauchi Haruki craned his neck, undisguised curiosity written all over his face.

"But what was she even doing these past few days? Throwing a tantrum?"

"Who knows? I can't figure out gloomy women like her."

Their discussion was neither loud nor quiet.

Just enough for several people nearby to hear.

Sakura's body trembled slightly, and she instinctively wanted to retreat back into her shell.

But at that moment, she felt that gaze.

She raised her head and met Natsume Yu's eyes.

His gaze was calm.

There was neither comfort nor encouragement in it.

It was like he was looking at something that belonged to him, confirming whether it was intact.

Just that single look.

Sakura Airi calmed down at once.

The irritating whispers around her and the probing stares no longer mattered.

She lowered her head again.

Yet the corners of her lips curled into a tiny smile that only she knew about.

Natsume Yu withdrew his gaze.

This possession of his, Sakura Airi, had undergone her initial adjustment.

Next, it was time to deal with another target.

His gaze shifted to the most aloof figure in the class.

Horikita Suzune.

The girl sat perfectly straight, her long black hair falling like a waterfall, with no unnecessary expression on her face.

She was like a flower growing on a cliff.

Beautiful, proud, and thorny.

To completely control Class D, he first had to pluck this high-born flower from the cliff.

Then crush that ridiculous pride of hers with his own hands.

After school, on the rooftop.

The wind was strong, making their school uniforms flap loudly.

Kushida Kikyo stood at the edge of the rooftop, gripping the railing tightly with both hands, the veins on the backs of her hands standing out.

Behind her came measured footsteps.

Every step seemed to land on her heart.

Making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Natsume... what did you... want to see me about?"

Kushida forced a sweet smile and turned around.

But the moment she saw Natsume Yu's gentle face, that smile instantly stiffened.

Fear.

Uncontrollable fear surged up from the deepest part of her heart.

This man held everything about her in his hands.

He could make the perfect image she had painstakingly built at school collapse in an instant.

He could turn her into trash that everyone despised.

Natsume Yu said nothing.

He merely walked up to her, reached out, and gently pinched her chin.

The movement was so gentle, as though he were handling a precious piece of porcelain.

But Kushida began trembling violently all over.

"Don't wear that mask in front of me."

Natsume Yu's voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable command.

"I have no interest in watching you perform."

The smile vanished entirely from Kushida's face.

It was replaced by a pale complexion and trembling lips.

"Yes..."

She lowered her head, no longer daring to look into his eyes.

"Good."

Natsume Yu released her, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and unhurriedly wiped the fingers that had touched her chin.

Then he casually tossed the handkerchief into the nearby trash can.

That action made Kushida's pupils contract sharply.

Humiliation washed over her like a tide.

"I need information."

Natsume Yu finally stated his purpose.

"Everything about Horikita Manabu."

His tone was calm.

"Especially anything... less than flattering."

Kushida Kikyo suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of shock.

Horikita Manabu?

The Student Council President?

The absolute ruler of Class A?

She did not understand why Natsume Yu wanted to investigate him.

But she did not dare ask.

She only knew that she had to obey.

Looking into the boy's unfathomable eyes, fear and a certain morbid excitement intertwined within Kushida.

Being controlled by someone so powerful, so cold-blooded.

Perhaps... it was not something impossible to accept.

Her legs felt weak, and her voice carried a fawning obedience she had not even noticed herself.

"Yes."

"Master."

Kushida was highly efficient.

Her network of friendships spread throughout the entire school, and at this moment, it displayed astonishing usefulness.

In less than a day.

Several rumors concerning Horikita Manabu's "coldness" had been compiled and sent to Natsume Yu's phone.

"To maintain Student Council discipline, he harshly punished a junior who made a mistake, nearly causing them to drop out."

"He rejected an improper request from a teacher, causing that teacher to suffer in an evaluation."

Natsume Yu's finger slid across the screen.

This information was all too bland.

Not enough.

Far from enough.

It could only prove that Horikita Manabu was impartial and uncompromising. It could not shake the perfect idol Horikita Suzune held in her heart.

He needed a sharper knife.

Finally, his finger stopped on the last piece of information.

"Rumor has it that last year, a student in Class A made a serious mistake for personal reasons, one severe enough to cause the entire class to be demoted. But through Horikita Manabu's maneuvering, that student voluntarily dropped out, preserving Class A's 'perfect' record without even losing a single class point."

This was it.

The corners of Natsume Yu's lips slowly rose.

What a perfect script.

For the collective's "perfection," he had sacrificed an individual without hesitation.

This knife was sharp enough.

Sharp enough to pierce the hard shell of faith called "older brother" surrounding Horikita Suzune's heart.

Now, all he needed was someone suitable to hand over the knife.

Natsume Yu found Ayanokoji Kiyotaka beside a vending machine.

He held a can of coffee, expressionlessly looking into the distance.

"Yo."

Natsume Yu walked over to him, bought himself a drink as well, and popped the tab.

"Have you heard?"

He began in an extremely casual tone, as though sharing campus gossip.

"A rumor about our flawless Student Council President, Horikita Manabu."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka turned his head, his eyes completely unruffled.

He merely looked quietly at Natsume Yu, waiting for him to continue.

Natsume Yu did not care about his reaction.

He went on to describe the information he had gotten from Kushida, embellishing it as he spoke.

"...To protect Class A, he forced his own classmate to drop out. Tsk, tsk. Those methods really are worthy of a 'Student Council President.'"

Natsume Yu took a sip of his drink and let out an exaggerated sigh.

"What kind of expression do you think Horikita would make if she found out?"

He finally looked at Ayanokoji.

A teasing smile glinted in his eyes.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained silent.

Of course he understood Natsume Yu's purpose.

This was not gossip-sharing at all.

It was an order.

He was being told to carry out a vicious plan through his own words.

"Find an opportunity."

Natsume Yu lowered his voice slightly, carrying an irresistible force.

"Just mention it 'casually' in front of Horikita Suzune."

"You're on decent terms with her, aren't you? It'll have the best effect if it comes from you."

His instructions were simple and clear.

Yet they struck directly at the most vulnerable place in the human heart.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Natsume Yu.

For a long time.

Then he nodded.

"Understood."

Natsume Yu smiled.

He patted Ayanokoji on the shoulder and accurately tossed his empty can into a distant trash can.

He watched Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's retreating figure.

That most inconspicuous man in Class D was the sharpest blade in his hand.

He could already foresee it.

What a wonderful sight it would be when the perfect idol called "Horikita Manabu" in Horikita Suzune's heart came crashing down.

He turned around.

Not far away, Sakura Airi stood beneath the shade of a tree, gazing at him timidly.

Natsume Yu beckoned to her.

The next second.

The girl immediately hurried over like a little dog that had found its master.