Yuefeng's Thoughts

The Special Project Research Group was like a stone thrown into a still pond.

Though only ripples of academic discussion appeared on the surface, its influence had quietly spread deeper into the campus.

Yuefeng could clearly sense this change, especially within Class C.

Ryuen's "regard" for him seemed to have risen another level. He no longer merely acknowledged Yuefeng's existence, occasionally using Ishizaki or others to pass along vague "inquiries" about the movements of other classes.

These inquiries were usually disguised as "checking on the group's progress" or "gathering information for the class."

But Yuefeng understood that Ryuen was testing his usefulness as a pair of "eyes" and "ears," gradually binding him more tightly to Class C's chariot.

In response, Yuefeng would select some harmless details from the group's discussions—or things Ryuen probably already knew—polish them slightly, and report them.

For example, the details of a disagreement between Katsuragi and Horikita during one debate, the difficulties Hirata encountered while trying to mediate, Ichinose's idealistic vision for a certain issue, and so on.

As for Sakayanagi Arisu, he reported even more cautiously. He only mentioned that she "had a unique way of thinking and often raised thought-provoking questions," never breathing a word about her unsettling hints or her subtle probing of him.

Ishizaki's group had developed increasingly complicated attitudes toward Yuefeng. Their open hostility and provocations had eased somewhat, but the jealousy and resentment in their eyes had only grown stronger.

Yuefeng knew that his selection for the research group and his increased value in Ryuen's eyes had undoubtedly slapped Ishizaki in the face and shaken his central position among Class C's hardliners.

Ishizaki was like a vicious dog temporarily kept on a leash. His fangs were still sharp, and he was only waiting for his owner to loosen the rope—or for a chance to break free himself.

Because Hiyori Shiina had also been selected for the group and had displayed strong academic ability within it,

she had earned many admiring looks from the ordinary students of Class C. The sight of her and Yuefeng entering and leaving the research group together also gave rise to new, relatively mild gossip.

This made Hiyori Shiina seem less isolated in class, but it also made her relationship with Yuefeng appear even more "special" in the eyes of more people.

Hiyori Shiina seemed both shy and quietly pleased about it.

Yuefeng, meanwhile, could only maintain an appropriate distance to avoid bringing her unnecessary trouble—especially under the watchful eyes of Ryuen and Ishizaki.

Ibuki Mio remained as independent as ever, indifferent to class affairs, but Yuefeng occasionally felt her appraising gaze upon him.

Unlike Sakayanagi Arisu's intellectually curious scrutiny, her gaze felt more like an evaluation—an assessment of whether his "strength" was worth a second look.

Or whether he might pose a threat to her or to something she cared about.

Time quietly passed amid this subtle yet tense balance.

The research group's topic was ultimately decided: "A Study of the Fairness and Incentive Effects of Advanced Nurturing High School's Current S Points System and Paths for Its Optimization." It seemed neutral on the surface, yet it tugged at the nerves of every class.

Everyone began gathering materials, designing questionnaires, and analyzing data.

Since Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina were in the same class and both leaned toward logic and data analysis, they naturally took on part of the quantitative analysis work, giving them more contact than before.

That afternoon, the group activity was canceled because the supervising teacher had something urgent to handle.

Yuefeng planned to visit the Old Book Section of the library to look up historical materials on changes in educational evaluation systems.

As he crossed the skybridge connecting the main building and the library, he happened to see Hiyori Shiina emerging from the library's main entrance with a stack of newly borrowed books in her arms. She seemed to be heading back toward the Class C area as well.

"Shiina." Yuefeng greeted her.

When Hiyori Shiina saw him, her eyes brightened slightly. She hurried over with the books in her arms. "Yuefeng, are you going to the library too?"

"Yeah. I'm going to look for some materials in the Old Book Section." Yuefeng nodded, his gaze falling on the thick stack of books in her arms. "Do you need help?"

"N-No, it's fine. I can manage by myself." Hiyori Shiina hurriedly shook her head, her cheeks faintly red.

The two walked side by side toward the Class C classroom building, casually discussing the group's progress and the materials they had each found.

Whenever Hiyori Shiina talked about academic matters, she always seemed especially focused and confident, her voice noticeably brighter as well.

This scene fell into Ishizaki's eyes from not far away.

He was leaning against the corridor railing with several lackeys, idly watching members of the athletic clubs training on the field below.

When he saw Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina walking side by side and chatting happily, his expression immediately darkened. His eyes churned with resentment, malice, and a trace of anger at being offended.

His failure at the Sports Festival, Ryuen's increasingly obvious "appreciation" of Yuefeng, Yuefeng's moment in the spotlight after being chosen for the research group, and even Hiyori Shiina—whom he had always looked down on—seeming to become more "popular" because of Yuefeng.

All of it stabbed into Ishizaki's heart like poisoned thorns. He did not dare openly defy Ryuen, but his hatred for Yuefeng grew with every passing day.

"Tch, look how pleased that bastard is with himself." One of the lackeys beside him followed Ishizaki's gaze and spat. "Isn't he just some bookworm who sucked up to Boss Ryuen? He really thinks he's somebody.

And that Shiina girl—she used to keep her mouth shut all the time, but now she dares walk so close to him..."

"Shut up!" Ishizaki snarled, making the lackey shrink back in fright.

Ishizaki stared fixedly at the retreating backs of Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina, his fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.

He needed an outlet, a way to strike at Yuefeng without directly provoking Ryuen.

His gaze wandered along the corridor before finally landing on a girl not far ahead, leaning alone against a windowsill with earphones on as she read.

It was Airi Sakura.

She still wore her hair in two braids and thick glasses, trying to shrink herself into the shadow by the windowsill as though she wanted to cut herself off from the entire world.

She was from Class D—introverted, timid, and barely interacting with anyone. She was the most inconspicuous person in the class, the easiest to overlook.

A vicious glint flashed through Ishizaki's eyes. He remembered some vague rumors he had recently heard in Class D about Airi Sakura and Yuefeng.

They were unclear, but enough. She was a Class D loser, and she had some connection to that Yuefeng bastard.

Even if he did something to her, those weaklings in Class D would not dare do anything. Yuefeng might even end up covered in trouble himself.

A sinister plan took shape in Ishizaki's mind. A cruel grin appeared on his face as he quietly gave several instructions to the lackeys beside him.

The lackeys were stunned at first, but soon wore malicious smiles of their own and nodded repeatedly.

Yuefeng knew nothing about this. After seeing Hiyori Shiina to the vicinity of the Class C classroom, he went alone to the Old Book Section and immersed himself in a pile of yellowed documents.

He tried to find clues about the historical development of the S Points system and its original design intentions.

It was not until the sky had darkened that he rubbed his aching eyes and left the library.

On his way back to the dormitory, he habitually chose the shortcut through the small garden.

As the sun set, the garden was dimly lit, and the hydrangea bushes appeared a deep blue-purple in the dusk.

Just as he reached the small fountain near the center of the Garden, he heard suppressed sobbing and the crude teasing of several boys coming from behind the dense bushes on the other side of the fountain.

Yuefeng halted, his guard rising. He softened his steps and approached silently.

Through a gap in the branches and leaves, he saw a scene that nearly froze his blood.