Ibuki's Appearance

They had no weapons, but their fists and kicks looked all the more vicious in the dim light.

Yuefeng's heart pounded like a drum, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. Three against one, in a secluded corner like this... He tightened his grip on the wooden stick, his knuckles turning white.

Slow Motion was operating at full power. The movements of the three men became clear and sluggish in his eyes, but his body's reactions were far behind his mind's warnings.

A throbbing pain came from the old injury in his left arm, reminding him of the gap in their strength.

Just as Ishizaki grinned viciously and prepared to launch their assault—

"Stop!"

A crisp, icy shout pierced the Garden's tension-filled air like an ice pick!

It wasn't a teacher, nor was it security.

A petite figure with astonishing presence sprinted from the shadows at the Garden entrance like a cheetah, blocking Yuefeng's path!

A dark blue pleated skirt fluttered, and long black hair streamed behind her as she ran. It was Ibuki Mio!

There was no time to wonder when she had appeared or how she had found this place.

Her face was cold, her gaze sharp as a blade as she stared down Ishizaki and the other two. She assumed a standard fighting stance, radiating undisguised danger.

"Ishizaki, take your people and get lost. Now." Ibuki Mio's voice held not a trace of warmth, as if tempered in ice.

The three of them froze abruptly.

They might not have cared about Yuefeng, or even teachers who might be drawn over, but when facing Ibuki Mio—a recognized fighting expert in Class C and the entire first year—they instinctively felt fear.

Ishizaki's expression shifted repeatedly. His chest still ached faintly where he had been struck. Facing Ibuki Mio's icy stare and her posture that could launch into attack at any moment, he lost his nerve.

"Ibuki... This has nothing to do with you!" Ishizaki shouted, putting on a fierce front.

"Him," Ibuki Mio said, tilting her head slightly and pointing her chin at Yuefeng behind her, "is Hiyori's friend.

Hiyori's business is my business." Her reason was simple and direct, yet carried an unquestionable force. "As for you bullying a Class D girl... Hah. Do you need me to ask the Public Morals Committee to decide who's in the right?"

The Public Morals Committee? Ishizaki's face darkened completely. If this blew up, it would do no one any good—especially someone like him with a prior record.

"You'll pay for this!" Ishizaki forced the words through gritted teeth. He shot Yuefeng a venomous glare, then looked warily at Ibuki Mio before finally waving a hand in frustration. "Let's go!"

His two lackeys looked as though they had been granted amnesty. They hurried after Ishizaki and slunk away into the shadows on the other side of the Garden.

Only after the sound of their footsteps had completely faded, leaving only the rustle of wind through leaves, did Yuefeng finally let out a breath.

The tension in his nerves suddenly released. Pain and weakness flooded his left arm at once, making him sway. The wooden stick fell from his hand with a clatter.

Ibuki Mio turned around and looked him over. Her gaze lingered briefly on his faintly trembling left arm and the cold sweat at his temple, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"You okay?" she asked. Her tone was still cold, but it no longer seemed quite so harsh.

"I'm fine... Thanks." Yuefeng took a breath and thanked her sincerely. If Ibuki Mio had not shown up in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Ibuki Mio did not reply. She merely bent down and picked up the light blue floral cloth bag that had been stepped on several times and dirtied, dusting it off. Airi Sakura had dropped it in her panic.

"The girl ran off. She should be fine." Ibuki Mio handed the bag to Yuefeng. "Yours?"

"It belongs to Sakura." Yuefeng accepted the bag. It was very light, and there seemed to be nothing inside. She had probably taken the important items with her, leaving only the empty bag.

He held it carefully in his hands.

Ibuki Mio nodded and did not ask further about Sakura. Looking at Yuefeng, she suddenly said, "You shouldn't have come alone. Ishizaki holds grudges."

"I know." Yuefeng gave a bitter smile. "But I couldn't just ignore it after seeing it."

Ibuki Mio fell silent for a moment, as though evaluating whether he truly meant it. Then she looked away toward the direction Ishizaki and the others had left.

"Hiyori was worried about you," she suddenly said, with no emotion discernible in her voice. "She heard Ishizaki had been acting strangely lately and was afraid he'd cause you trouble. She asked me... to keep an eye out."

Yuefeng froze. Hiyori Shiina? She had noticed Ishizaki's unusual behavior? And she had specifically asked Ibuki Mio?

"Shiina, she..."

"She's timid, but she can be pretty accurate when it comes to judging people," Ibuki Mio interrupted. "Ishizaki wasn't targeting that Class D girl entirely because of you today, but you were the fuse. You've been too conspicuous lately."

Yuefeng fell silent. Ibuki Mio was right. The research group, Ryuen's "favor," his contact with Hiyori Shiina... all of it had made him a thorn in certain people's sides.

"Be careful." Ibuki Mio gave him one final look. That gaze seemed to say, I can save you once, but I can't save you every time. Then she turned, preparing to leave.

"Ibuki," Yuefeng called after her. "And thank you... Tell Shiina I'm okay."

Ibuki Mio paused, but did not turn around. She only waved a hand before quickly disappearing into the deepening night.

Yuefeng was left alone in the Garden, along with the dirty floral cloth bag belonging to Airi Sakura in his hands.

The evening breeze brought a chill, dispersing the faint dusty scent left behind by the confrontation.

Yuefeng leaned against the cold base of the fountain and slowly slid down to sit on the ground, gasping for breath. Waves of pain from his left arm reminded him of the danger he had just faced.

Ishizaki's revenge had come faster—and more despicably—than he had expected.

This time it was Airi Sakura. What about next time? Would it be Hiyori Shiina? Or would they use methods that were more subtle and more vicious?

Ibuki Mio's warning still echoed in his ears. He really had become too "conspicuous."

On Ryuen's chessboard, under Sakayanagi Arisu's observation, amid Ishizaki's jealousy... he was like a lone boat in the eye of a storm, liable to be torn apart at any moment.

Airi Sakura's tearful face, Ishizaki's vicious grin, Ibuki Mio's icy gaze, Hiyori Shiina's worried request... scene after scene flashed through his mind.

He lowered his head and looked at the small, dirty cloth bag in his hand.

This was something Airi Sakura cherished, the vessel for the courage she had gathered to express her gratitude. Yet because of him, it had nearly been ruined.

A profound sense of helplessness intertwined with anger, burning in his chest.

He could not remain this passive any longer.

He had to do something. Not merely for his own protection.

But also for those innocent people who had been dragged into this whirlpool because of him.

He clenched the cloth bag tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Night completely enveloped the Garden.

And beneath the shadow of the distant school building, a pair of calm, unruffled eyes took in everything that had happened in the Garden.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji leaned against the wall, as if he had become one with the darkness.

He looked in the direction Ishizaki and the other two had fled in, then at Yuefeng sitting alone in the Garden. Finally, his gaze settled on the conspicuous light blue floral cloth bag in Yuefeng's hand.

His face remained expressionless, but his dark brown eyes seemed to flicker faintly in the darkness.

Then he turned and left without a sound, as if he had never been there.