Hiyori Shiina's Warning

Kiyotaka's elusive "guidance" that night and his cold "theory of games" weighed on Yuefeng's heart like a block of ice, heavy and slow to melt away.

But life had to go on. The research group's project, the undercurrents in Class C, Ryuen's barely veiled prodding, and the improvement of his own "strength" all forced him to suppress his stray thoughts and focus on what lay ahead.

He threw himself even more deeply into the resources of the library's Old Book Section.

Not just books on fighting and self-defense techniques, but also psychology, microexpression analysis, basic methods of gathering and verifying intelligence, and even obscure historical materials on the evolution of modern elite education and the relationships between zaibatsu families.

He knew that in this world, where knowledge and information also constituted part of one's "strength," every bit of additional understanding meant a bit more initiative.

He had not slackened his physical training, either. The open space behind the Old Gymnasium had become his regular destination every night.

He no longer merely copied the movements from books. Instead, he began combining the advantages brought by his Slow Motion perception to explore methods of exerting force and responding that were faster, more discreet, and better suited to him.

He knew he could never become a combat expert like Ibuki Mio, but he could become a "survivor" best at exploiting his surroundings and timing—one who could protect himself to the greatest extent possible and create opportunities to escape.

Sakayanagi Arisu's "warning taps" within the group seemed to have come to an end.

She had returned to her aloof observer's posture, only occasionally casting Yuefeng that meaningful glance whenever he spoke—more than enough to keep him alert.

Katsuragi and Horikita still argued as before, Hirata still mediated as before, and Ichinose remained as enthusiastic as ever, as though the incident that day had never happened.

Yet Yuefeng could sense that something had changed.

Everyone seemed more cautious now, with a layer of concealed probing and reservation added to their words.

Hiyori Shiina was becoming increasingly at ease within the group. Her ability for logical reasoning had been fully demonstrated and recognized; even Katsuragi and Horikita would seriously listen to her supplementary opinions.

But the dependence and faint concern in her gaze toward Yuefeng seemed to have deepened somewhat.

Yuefeng could only try to maintain an appropriate distance—not so distant as to make her uneasy, but not so close as to expose her to potential risks.

On Ishizaki's side, there were no new moves, like the dead stillness before a storm.

But from several Class C students who normally dared not voice their resentment toward Ishizaki, Yuefeng vaguely heard that Ishizaki seemed to be carrying out some secret schemes and had suspicious contact with certain people from Class D, and even Class B.

Yuefeng kept that information in mind and raised his guard.

That day, the research group's project reached the stage of questionnaire design and preliminary data collection.

Ichinose proposed conducting a small-scale preliminary interview, selecting students from different classes and backgrounds to learn their genuine feelings and opinions about the S Points system.

Most of the group approved of the proposal, believing it would help them obtain more vivid firsthand material.

Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina were assigned to the same group, responsible for interviewing several designated students from Class C and Class D.

The list had been coordinated with Hirata Yosuke's help. It included several average-performing, usually inconspicuous Class C students, as well as Airi Sakura from Class D and two relatively introverted boys.

When Yuefeng received the list and saw Airi Sakura's name, his heart stirred slightly.

This was an opportunity. Perhaps he could naturally make contact with her, see how she had been lately, and incidentally learn more about what was happening in Class D.

The interviews were arranged in an empty classroom after school. Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina divided the work between them, with Shiina handling the questions and notes.

Yuefeng was mainly responsible for observing the interviewees' expressions, tone, and other nonverbal cues, while adding questions at appropriate moments.

The interviews with the first few Class C students went relatively smoothly.

Most of them had complicated feelings about the points system. They depended on the conveniences and educational resources it brought, yet they also felt helpless and even dissatisfied with the pressure caused by point distribution and competition within the class.

Their words carried much apprehension toward Ryuen's rule. They did not dare speak plainly, but the occasional expressions that slipped through still allowed Yuefeng to catch some information.

When it was Airi Sakura's turn, she appeared even more nervous than before. Her fingers tightly twisted the hem of her clothes, her head hung low, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito's.

Hiyori Shiina tried to soften her tone as much as possible, and the questions had been designed to be relatively gentle, but Sakura's answers remained brief, vague, and full of unease.

Yuefeng did not rush to press her. He simply sat quietly to one side, looking at her with the calmest gaze he could manage.

Whenever she got stuck from nervousness, he would hand her a cup of water or encourage her with his eyes.

Halfway through the interview, when they asked, "Do you think the points system is fair?" Airi Sakura suddenly froze.

She raised her head. Behind her thick lenses, her eyes reddened slightly. Her lips moved a few times, as if she wanted to say something, but fear made her swallow the words back down.

"N-no... I think... it's, it's pretty good..." In the end, she merely stammered out the official line.

Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina exchanged a glance.

They could both tell that Airi Sakura was hiding something, but she clearly lacked any sense of security and did not dare reveal her true feelings here.

The interview ended hastily. Airi Sakura left the classroom as if fleeing.

"She seems... very scared," Hiyori Shiina said softly as she organized her notes.

"Yeah," Yuefeng responded, his doubts growing even stronger.

Was Airi Sakura's fear merely due to her introverted personality, or was there another reason?

Had something happened within Class D, or on Ishizaki's side?

He decided that when he had the chance, he would speak with Airi Sakura alone again. At the very least, he needed to return that cloth bag to her.

After all the interviews were finished, Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina organized their materials and left the empty classroom. It was already late, and the corridors were deserted.

"Yuefeng," Hiyori Shiina said quietly, clutching her folder. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Don't you think... Sakura, and those Class C students we interviewed earlier... they all seemed to be afraid of something?"

Yuefeng's heart stirred. Hiyori Shiina's powers of observation really were sharp.

"Maybe," he answered ambiguously. "At Advanced Nurturing High School, there are many things to fear.

Points, rankings, class evaluations, and..."

He paused and did not continue.

"And... people like Ishizaki," Hiyori Shiina continued, her voice even lower and carrying a barely noticeable tremor. "I heard... Ishizaki has recently been spending a lot of time with some people from Class D... and there have been some bad rumors."

Yuefeng looked at her. "What rumors?"

Hiyori Shiina bit her lip, seeming to make a major decision. "Someone said... he's secretly organizing... 'trades.'

Using points to exchange for some... not very good things. Or helping people deal with 'trouble.'"