Sakayanagi Arisu

She was still that detached "chess player."

Most of the time, she merely listened quietly, speaking only occasionally. Yet whenever she did, she could always turn the tide with minimal effort, instantly cooling heated arguments or steering the discussion toward a deeper, even unsettling direction.

Her observations of everyone—including Yuefeng—seemed never to cease. Those clear violet eyes appeared capable of seeing through every disguise.

That day, the discussion focused on "the distorting effects of the S Points system on cohesion and competition within a class."

Katsuragi believed that moderate competition could bring out people's potential, and that the key was establishing fair rules for competition.

Horikita believed that competition itself was a process of selecting the strong and eliminating the weak, and that they should not overemphasize "cohesion" at the expense of competitive intensity.

Hirata worried that excessive competition would destroy trust and cooperation within the class.

Ichinose, meanwhile, hoped to find a "win-win" model that could both motivate individuals and promote unity.

When it was Yuefeng's turn to speak, he carefully chose his words and cited the models of the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Tragedy of the Commons, analyzing how, in the absence of effective communication and mechanisms for long-term trust,

individual rationality could lead to collective irrationality, and how institutional design might inadvertently worsen such a predicament.

His speech was logically structured and supported by apt examples. Even Horikita gave a slight nod of approval.

Just then, Sakayanagi Arisu, who had been listening quietly all along, suddenly let out a soft laugh.

The sound was crisp and pleasant, yet it instantly cooled the fervor of the discussion.

"Ayanokoji's models are always so... exquisite. Reducing this tiny 'society' known as Advanced Nurturing High School

into a game-theory model does indeed simplify many complex variables and produce clear deductions." Her fingertips tapped lightly against the table as her gaze settled on Yuefeng's face, carrying pure intellectual delight.

Yuefeng's heart tightened. He knew the "but" was coming.

"However," Sakayanagi Arisu predictably changed direction, a trace of mischief flashing through her pale violet eyes, "no matter how exquisite a model may be, it is ultimately only a simplification of reality.

In reality, the individuals participating in the game are not the 'rational actors' assumed by the model.

They have emotions, prejudices, loyalty and betrayal that cannot be quantified, and even... unexpected 'variables' that intervene."

Her gaze seemed to sweep casually over Yuefeng, then Hiyori Shiina, before returning to Yuefeng.

"For example, the issue of 'trust' that Ayanokoji just mentioned.

In an environment lacking a foundation of trust, cooperation is indeed difficult to establish. But is it possible," she leaned forward slightly, as though sharing an interesting secret, "that some forms of 'cooperation' were never based on trust from the very beginning?

Rather, they are based on... some higher-level 'consensus,' or some more unbreakable 'bond'?"

She paused, admiring the varied expressions on everyone's faces before continuing in that gentle voice of hers. "Or perhaps, when a certain 'variable'

—for example, an individual with access to special channels of information, or some kind of 'unique ability'—appears, could the equilibrium of the entire game be completely shattered?

They might choose to profit from their informational advantage, or they might... choose to become the creator of new rules."

The activity room fell silent. Katsuragi frowned deeply as he digested the implications of her words.

Horikita's eyes were sharp, as though she were considering the possibility that such a "variable" existed. Hirata looked troubled, while Ichinose seemed somewhat confused.

Hiyori Shiina's face turned slightly pale. She appeared to understand some of Sakayanagi Arisu's implications and cast Yuefeng a worried glance.

Yuefeng felt cold sweat seep down his back. Sakayanagi Arisu's words seemed to be commenting on his model, but every sentence felt as though it were alluding to something.

Special channels of information? Unique ability? Was she implying that she knew something? About "Father"? About Kiyotaka? Or about those unknown "observations" and "studies" of his?

A higher-level "consensus" and "bond"... Was she referring to Ryuen's control over Class C? Or, more terrifyingly, the invisible hand behind the school?

"So what Classmate Sakayanagi means is," Yuefeng forced himself to remain calm, meeting her eyes and trying to make his tone sound academic, "that when analyzing the effects of a system, one must account for disruptions from 'irrational factors' and 'key individual variables'?"

"Disruptions?" Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head, her smile sweet. "What a cautious choice of words, Ayanokoji.

I would rather call them... 'the charm of the game.' It is precisely because of these 'variables' and 'accidents' that cannot be fully predicted that a game becomes 'interesting,' isn't it?"

She no longer looked at Yuefeng, instead turning toward the bright sunlight outside the window, as though those unsettling words had merely been an offhand remark.

"Of course, these are just some personal idle thoughts of mine. There's no need for everyone to take them seriously." She ended the topic airily, as though she had merely tossed in a pebble and no longer cared how many ripples it caused.

The discussion continued, but the atmosphere had changed completely. Even Katsuragi and Horikita's argument seemed distracted.

Hirata's attempts at mediation carried a hint of strain, and Ichinose's smile had dimmed somewhat as well.

Everyone's thoughts had been thrown into disarray by Sakayanagi Arisu's words.

Yuefeng, even more so, felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. He knew Sakayanagi Arisu was not merely indulging in "idle thoughts."

She was probing, applying pressure, and perhaps even... issuing a warning.

In this way, she was reminding him—and perhaps everyone else—that beneath this game seemingly built from rules and points, more complex and dangerous forces were stirring.

After the meeting, Yuefeng felt more exhausted than if he had run a marathon.

He and Hiyori Shiina left the activity room one after the other. Neither spoke, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

"Yuefeng," at the stairwell landing, Hiyori Shiina finally could not hold back any longer and asked softly, "what did Classmate Sakayanagi mean by those words just now? Did she... know something?"

Yuefeng stopped and looked into Hiyori Shiina's worried eyes, his emotions tangled.

He could not tell her the truth. That would only frighten her more.

"She was just showing her way of thinking," Yuefeng said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Looking at problems outside the usual framework. Don't think too much about it." Even he did not believe what he was saying.

Hiyori Shiina clearly did not believe him either, but she saw his evasiveness and did not press further. She merely bit her lip lightly and said in a low voice, "You... need to be careful.

I feel like Classmate Sakayanagi... looks at you differently."

Differently was an understatement. Yuefeng smiled bitterly inwardly. It was more like she was looking at a novel toy waiting to be taken apart.

"I know." He nodded. "You too, Shiina. In this group, don't trust anyone too easily."

That included the seemingly gentle Hirata, the sunny Ichinose, and even... the quietest Katsuragi and the sharpest Horikita.

Everyone might have unknown positions and motives behind them.

Hiyori Shiina nodded firmly, her gaze growing somewhat more resolute. "I'll protect myself. You too, Yuefeng."

After parting ways, Yuefeng did not return to the dormitory immediately. He needed somewhere quiet to sort through his chaotic thoughts.

As if possessed, he headed toward the open space behind the Old Gymnasium—the place where he usually practiced self-defense.