The Hidden Hand and Clues About the Two-faced Cat

In Class D's classroom, the air was thick with a strange stench of anxiety and despair.

Their points had been reset to zero.

The news was like a massive boulder, shattering everyone's false peace.

Some furiously demanded answers, some sobbed quietly, while others, like Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, had completely given up. They lay slumped over their desks, muttering, "It's over."

Natsume Yu sat at his seat like a transparent ghost.

He flipped through his book, but from the corner of his eye, he took in the entire farce unfolding in the classroom.

He watched those who usually strutted around so arrogantly now hang their heads like defeated roosters.

He also watched the students who considered themselves clever gather together, futilely arguing over who was to blame.

What an entertaining monkey show.

His gaze eventually settled on a busy figure.

Kushida Kikyo.

Like a diligent little bee, she darted through the chaotic hive.

"Don't lose heart, everyone. We'll find a way."

"We're a group, so we need to figure something out together."

"Sudo, don't get angry. Getting mad won't solve anything, right?"

She comforted every single person, an angelic smile hanging on her face.

Perfect.

Flawless.

But Natsume Yu's eyes caught the fleeting exhaustion behind that smile when she turned around.

As well as the intense irritation buried deep in her eyes toward this group of "useless teammates."

Interesting.

After wearing a mask for too long, anyone would eventually grow tired.

Natsume Yu withdrew his gaze, took out his phone, and opened Advanced Nurturing High School's campus forum.

He switched to an anonymous account, his fingers rapidly tapping across the screen.

A post quietly appeared in Class D's forum section.

Title: [A Personal Guess About S Points—Please Don't Flame Me]

The content was simple, containing only a few lines.

"Is it possible that individual points and class evaluation points are two separate systems?"

"If collective responsibility means the group is punished, then what about rewards?"

"The school rules don't seem to prohibit point transactions within a class, do they?"

He did not provide any answers.

He merely tossed out a few vague questions, a few seeds meant to lure people into thinking.

After posting it, he locked his screen and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

He did not need to do much.

He only needed to give the dominoes a gentle push.

During the afternoon study period.

The atmosphere in the classroom remained oppressive.

But Natsume Yu keenly noticed that certain changes were taking place.

The arguments had quieted down.

People began gathering in twos and threes, whispering among themselves.

He saw Hirata Yosuke, the class's perennial good guy, holding his phone as he stared at the anonymous post with furrowed brows.

And on the other side.

Someone stood beside Horikita Suzune's desk.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

That man who always wore a blank expression was quietly saying something to Horikita Suzune.

Horikita Suzune still had that icy look that kept everyone at arm's length.

But she did not chase Ayanokoji away.

She even took out pen and paper, seemingly writing something down.

An almost imperceptible curve touched Natsume Yu's lips.

Good.

His chess pieces had begun moving on their own.

"Hey, I mean, since we don't have any points anyway, why the hell are we still attending class?"

Sudo Ken suddenly slapped his desk and stood up, his face full of rage.

"Why not just coast until graduation? What can the school even do to us?"

Several people echoed his words.

"Exactly! Might as well smash the pot and be done with it!"

"This crappy school can keep whoever wants to stay!"

Natsume Yu could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids.

The impotent rage of the incapable.

It was the cheapest and most useless emotional outlet for the weak.

He knew those stray noises would soon be drowned out.

Night.

In the dormitory.

Only the pale glow of a laptop screen illuminated Natsume Yu's room.

On the screen was an archived internal forum from a certain middle school, one that had been shut down for years.

Using certain special methods, he had obtained access.

In the search bar, he entered three characters.

"Kushida Kikyo."

Countless posts popped up.

Most of them were praise.

"Kikyo is such an angel!"

"The beauty of our class—pretty and kindhearted!"

But Natsume Yu patiently flipped through the pages one by one.

At last, in an inconspicuous corner, he found a backup of a deleted post.

The poster had been anonymous.

The post was an accusation filled with resentment and fear.

"That woman is a devil! She destroyed our entire class! You've all been fooled by her! She exposed everyone's secrets..."

The post abruptly ended there.

Below it was a system notification: [This content has been deleted by an administrator for containing malicious attacks.]

Natsume Yu lightly tapped the touchpad.

He saved the passage along with the poster's anonymous ID.

A devil?

He liked that word.

The next day, at the library.

Natsume Yu wandered between the bookshelves, then "happened" to arrive near the spot where Ayanokoji Kiyotaka usually sat.

He saw Ayanokoji reading a book.

It was precisely the book he had "carelessly" left behind yesterday—Collective Behavior and Game Theory: Rational Choices and Irrational Revelry.

Natsume Yu did not approach him.

He merely pretended to look for books at another shelf some distance away.

Just as he turned around, he felt a gaze fall upon him.

It was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Their eyes met briefly in the air.

Natsume Yu's gaze was as calm as still water.

Ayanokoji's, meanwhile, carried a deep, barely perceptible hint of scrutiny.

Does he suspect me?

Or is he testing me?

Natsume Yu found it immensely interesting.

He gave Ayanokoji a gentle, harmless smile and a slight nod.

Then he picked up a book, turned, and left.

That silent exchange put him in a pleasant mood.

After school.

Natsume Yu passed by the Art Club's activity room.

Through the crack of the open door, he saw a familiar figure.

Sakura Airi.

Holding a drawing board, she sat curled up alone in a corner, completely out of place among the other club members.

Her face still carried unease and fear after their points had been reset to zero.

Natsume Yu did not go in and disturb her.

He merely stood at the door and watched quietly for a few seconds.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Sakura Airi subconsciously raised her head.

She saw Natsume Yu.

Natsume Yu gave her a gentle, encouraging look.

Then he turned and left.

Sakura Airi froze where she was.

Yet she could feel the heart hanging in her chest settle a little.

In this cold school, that person's gaze was the only warmth.

Back in his dormitory.

Natsume Yu ran through Class D's "development blueprint" in his mind once more.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was the sharpest blade, and he needed someone suitable to wield him.

Horikita Suzune had ambition and drive, but she lacked finesse and adaptability. She was perfect to push into the spotlight, becoming both the wielder of the blade and a shield.

And Kushida Kikyo...

Natsume Yu walked over to the mirror.

He looked at his reflection.

The corners of his mouth slowly rose as he practiced the harmless smile most capable of putting others at ease.

He murmured softly, his voice carrying a trace of cold amusement.

"Two-faced Cat, I'll soon have your secret completely in my grasp."