Classic Handprint

After the dinner gathering ended, Akiyama Shin did not leave with Horikita Suzune, choosing instead to depart alone.

He needed some quiet space to process tonight's observations and form clearer preliminary judgments about the members of Class D.

Class D's situation could only be described as extremely polarized.

Academically, there were indeed quite a few outstanding students.

Not to mention Horikita Suzune, an elite student.

Even Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, Wang Meiyu, and Yukimura Teruhiko—the bespectacled boy who seemed somewhat old-fashioned—all displayed a foundation of knowledge and attitude toward studying that suggested their overall academic ability might surpass Akiyama Shin's.

Yukimura Teruhiko and Horikita Suzune in particular could practically be called the ceiling of Class D's academic ability.

However, Akiyama Shin keenly noticed that there might be some people in the class deliberately concealing their abilities.

The first was Koenji Rokusuke.

Unexpectedly, that eccentric man had actually attended the dinner tonight.

Although he had spent nearly the entire time conversing only with the mirror he had brought, his very presence had been highly conspicuous.

He made no effort to hide his oddness and dismissed others' doubts with contempt, yet that absolute authenticity made it difficult for Akiyama Shin to gauge his true depth.

Still, he was undoubtedly a variable that required close attention.

Then there was Matsushita Chiaki, whose presence was faint.

She had waist-length brown hair and a lovely face, but among a crowd, she seemed capable of automatically disappearing.

Akiyama Shin had briefly spoken with her and felt that she was like a female version of Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

She seemed somewhat curious about everything, yet deep down she carried a detached air that dreaded trouble.

From their conversation, he could infer that she had little passion for studying, yet her grades remained above average.

Akiyama Shin's preliminary judgment was that Matsushita Chiaki might possess considerable talent and ability, but deliberately hid herself out of fear of trouble or attention.

A disorganized rabble, yet hidden among them were gems...

Quietly mulling it over, Akiyama Shin made his way alone to a secluded little park deep within the campus.

The trees here were lush, and only a few dim streetlights illuminated the night. The sparse light, the lack of people, and the artificial lake glimmering faintly beneath the moon made the place feel cold and profound.

Precisely because the surroundings were eerie and lacked any romantic atmosphere, few people came here, making it a temporary refuge of quiet for Akiyama Shin.

He had only just sat on a bench by the lake when a suppressed yet venomous stream of curses drifted over from the gravel path leading into the woods not far ahead.

Though the voice was deliberately lowered, it remained clearly audible in the silent night, and the targets of the insults were none other than Akiyama Shin and Horikita Suzune.

Following the sound, he saw Kushida Kikyo standing beside the wrought-iron railing around the artificial lake, with not a trace of her usual sweetness remaining.

Her face was twisted, her eyes blazing, and she was viciously kicking the hard railing with her little leather shoes.

Words of abuse completely contrary to her angelic image poured from her mouth like a barrage.

"Akiyama Shin! You pretentious bastard! Asshole! You ungrateful piece of trash!"

"And that bitch Horikita Suzune! Acting so high and mighty! Who are you trying to fool with that ice queen act? You're obviously just a repressed slut!"

"Why?! Why are those stupid girls all circling around you over something as trivial as love?!"

"Why does even that Akiyama Shin dare to ignore me?!"

"Is it just because he's a little handsome? Men really are visual creatures! Disgusting! Filthy!"

"Damn it! You all deserve to die! I'll make you regret this! I'll make you kneel and beg me!"

She was too immersed in venting the negative emotions she had bottled up for so long to notice the approaching footsteps behind her.

Only when those footsteps stopped neither too near nor too far away did Kushida Kikyo suddenly become alert and whirl around like a startled rabbit.

Moonlight and dim lamplight outlined Akiyama Shin's tall figure. He stood there quietly, his dark red pupils appearing even deeper and more unfathomable in the night.

Kushida Kikyo's heart nearly leaped from her chest, and overwhelming terror froze her in place.

But her instinct from playing a role for so long allowed her to switch expressions with astonishing speed.

The savagery and resentment on her face vanished in an instant, replaced by a gentle smile carrying just the right amount of surprise and innocence.

"A-Akiyama-kun?"

Her voice remained sweet, carrying a perfectly measured hint of confusion as she jogged toward Akiyama Shin.

"What are you doing here? What a coincidence!"

She ran up in front of him, tilted up her face, and blinked her large eyes as she asked tentatively.

"Um... just now..."

"Did you hear anything?"

Akiyama Shin lowered his gaze at her flawless performance, worthy of an Oscar-winning actor, but his face showed no expression whatsoever.

"From beginning to end."

The smile on Kushida Kikyo's face instantly froze, like a crack appearing in an exquisite porcelain piece.

Her eyes gradually turned cold, and the sweetness left her voice, replaced with icy suspicion.

"Oh... were you following me?"

"I thought it was strange... You kept staring at me on the bus when school started... So you really had ulterior motives toward me, didn't you?"

Akiyama Shin did not respond to her self-indulgent conclusion. He merely watched her quietly, as though he were observing a boring farce.

It was precisely this dismissive attitude that thoroughly enraged Kushida Kikyo. Her already unstable facade cracked apart once more, and her suppressed fury erupted.

"Keep pretending! You're just playing hard to get, aren't you?! You act like you're not interested in me, but you've been lusting after my body and face all along, haven't you?!"

"You men are all the same! Every last one of you is an ugly creature that thinks with his lower half!"

Watching her hysterical appearance, Akiyama Shin finally spoke coldly, uttering four words.

"Disgusting to look at."

Kushida Kikyo froze sharply upon hearing that, as though she could not believe what she had heard.

"Huh?"

She pulled out a twisted smile.

"Y-you... what did you say?"

Akiyama Shin repeated himself clearly, the contempt in his tone completely undisguised.

"I said."

"The way you look right now."

"Is truly disgusting."

"Heh... hehe..."

Kushida Kikyo laughed in rage, but her laughter was full of venom. Rather than continue arguing, she made a surprising move.

She slowly approached Akiyama Shin until less than half a meter separated them. A faint scent of gardenias drifted from her body.

Fresh and pleasant.

Yet it formed an ironic contrast with her current actions.

Akiyama Shin remained where he was, calm and unreadable, wanting to see what she intended to do.

Kushida Kikyo suddenly reached out, grabbed Akiyama Shin's wrist, and forcefully pressed his hand against her chest.

Akiyama Shin was briefly taken aback by the weight of that softness, but immediately understood her intention.

Framing me...

Sure enough, Kushida Kikyo raised her head. Her face carried a cold, indifferent resolve as she lowered her voice and threatened him.

"Listen..."

"If you dare tell anyone what you saw today..."

"I'll tell the school..."

"That you tried to rape me here..."

She shook Akiyama Shin's hand, which was pressed against her chest.

"I won't wash these clothes. The fingerprints on them will be the best evidence."

"Enough to get you expelled, or even sent to prison."

Faced with that naked threat, Akiyama Shin did not panic. Instead, he let out a quiet laugh.

Kushida Kikyo grew increasingly irritated at his laughter.

"What... are you laughing at...?"

Akiyama Shin did not even rush to pull back his hand. Instead, he gave a slight squeeze, feeling that astonishing sensation, his tone carrying casual amusement.

"Is that so..."

"Oh...? And then?"

"Even if you really could get me expelled with this... or even send me to prison... so what?"

He stepped forward, his dark red pupils like ghostly flames burning in the night as they locked onto Kushida Kikyo's increasingly unsteady eyes.

"But that perfect school life you dream of..."

"Would end right here."

"The angelic image you worked so hard to create..."

"Would completely collapse."

His voice lowered further, carrying a trace of danger.

"And have you considered that this place is so remote that no one would hear you even if you screamed your lungs out..."

"If I really wanted to do something, then clean it up afterward, would your so-called evidence still mean anything?"

Akiyama Shin did not say this because he truly did not care about expulsion or imprisonment. His goal was the pinnacle of the world, and this school was an important stepping stone in his life.

But at this moment, he was engaged in a psychological battle.

He had keenly noticed that Kushida Kikyo was the type who depended heavily on interpersonal relationships and gained a sense of existence and satisfaction by playing the perfect role.

Her social network was everything to her.

Her obsession with building a new image at this new school must mean she had an unbearable past.

Most likely, she had endured too many negative emotions and secrets from others, eventually becoming unable to bear the burden and choosing some extreme method—such as exposing every secret in retaliation—causing her class, perhaps even a wider social circle, to collapse. She had come to Advanced Nurturing to escape the past and begin anew.

Therefore.

She had to be even more afraid than him of losing everything she had now.

Akiyama Shin was gambling.

Gambling that she would not dare truly drag them both down together.

Kushida Kikyo's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Akiyama Shin's words were like an icy dagger, precisely piercing the deepest fear in her heart.

She truly did not dare.

She could not imagine the new life she had painstakingly built being destroyed once again. Nor could she endure again the feeling of being despised by everyone and becoming the target of all blame.

This bastard...

How could he...

How dare he...!

The inner struggle and fear of losing her wonderful school life made her body tremble faintly. In the end, her desire to preserve the status quo overpowered everything else in her heart.

As if all strength had been drained from her, she proposed a twisted agreement, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremble.

"Fine."

"You win..."

She took a deep breath.

"As long as you keep this secret..."

"For the next three years... I can be your... fuck buddy... whenever you call... Is that enough?"

However, deep within her lowered eyes, vicious thoughts were growing wildly.

Stabilize him for now!

Once I find an opportunity...

I have to find a way to make this threat disappear completely!

I have to get him expelled!

Akiyama Shin naturally saw through her insincerity and hidden malice. He did not believe in her so-called promise to be his fuck buddy, and he had already guessed that she was surely plotting how to strike back. But for the moment, in order to maintain this fragile balance, those words were simply more advantageous to her.

Akiyama Shin finally withdrew his hand slowly, his tone returning to its usual indifference.

"Fine."

He turned around, preparing to leave this troublesome place, leaving only three final words.

"Go back to the dorm."

Watching Akiyama Shin's retreating figure vanish into the night without a trace of hesitation, Kushida Kikyo clenched her small fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Immense humiliation, fear, and towering hatred intertwined and boiled within her.

"Akiyama Shin... just you wait..."

"I... I'll make you pay!"