Ryuen's Attention

Sakayanagi nodded, turning her gaze toward the window. The lingering morning light fell across her profile, making it look especially gentle:

"Yes, just keep me company, chat with me, and look out the window. That isn't too much to ask, is it?"

Ayanokoji fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "All right. I accept."

Sakayanagi's smile grew brighter. "How straightforward. Then the thirty thousand points will be transferred to your account shortly."

As Ayanokoji descended the stairs, Horikita Suzune stood at the end of the corridor with her arms crossed and her brows tightly furrowed. "How did it go?"

"It's settled," Ayanokoji answered briefly. "Sakayanagi agreed to lend us thirty thousand points."

Horikita's frown eased slightly, though there was still a trace of dissatisfaction in her voice. "What condition did you agree to?"

"Keeping her company for a while," Ayanokoji replied in the same calm tone, as though it were a trivial matter.

Horikita frowned again. "Just talking? What exactly is she trying to do?"

"I don't know." Ayanokoji shook his head. "But this was our only choice."

Horikita was silent for a moment before finally sighing. "I hope this doesn't cause any trouble."

Ayanokoji did not answer, only silently watching the window. The afterglow of the setting sun fell across their departing backs, stretching their shadows long.

An unusual reflection suddenly appeared in the room's glass window.

At the end of the corridor, Sakayanagi Arisu, who had lagged a step behind, lightly tapped her ivory cane against the floor.

"I thought you would come in and take a look."

"Coming in early would ruin this little show."

Sakamoto Junichi stepped out of the shadows, a faint smile on his face. "Looks like you got what you wanted."

Sakayanagi Arisu continued looking out the window, her tone languid. "Yes, thanks to your 'help.'"

Sakamoto shrugged, a teasing note in his voice. "I merely gave things a little push. Besides, getting you to stop coming to play chess with me is a good thing too."

Sakayanagi gave a soft laugh, her gaze still fixed outside. "Don't worry. Since you helped me with this, I won't bother you again for the time being."

There was a hint of meaning in Sakamoto's smile. "That's good. Get along well with Ayanokoji. He's an interesting person."

"Oh, right. Come to the gathering tomorrow. Class D's gathering." Sakayanagi changed the subject.

"That may not work. I already have plans tomorrow."

Sakayanagi did not reply, merely stirring her now-cold black tea with gentle motions—

"In any case, Sudo Ken's matter has now been resolved."

The moment Chabashira Sae announced that Sudo's expulsion crisis had been lifted, holding a hot coffee in her hand, the air in Class D's classroom seemed to freeze. It was not until the sound of her heels faded at the end of the corridor that—

Ike Kanji suddenly planted one foot on a chair, the bag of chips in his hand crackling as he squeezed it.

"W-We did it! I knew it, Sudo, you bastard! You're too damn tough to go down!"

Yamauchi Haruki instantly pulled out his phone, shoving the camera almost into Sudo's flushed face.

"Come on, hurry up and bow to Lady Horikita for the camera! She saved your life—"

"Shut up!" Sudo slammed a fist into a locker, and the metallic tremor abruptly silenced the classroom. His neck was red as he bowed ninety degrees toward Horikita, who was organizing her notes.

"Sorry... for yelling at you during the tutoring sessions."

Horikita's pencil tip punched a small hole through her notebook.

"Rather than apologizing, finish the trigonometry exercises assigned last week."

As she turned, her ponytail swung in a cold, sharp arc. "Your current grades are still dangerous. It is safe to assume the next final exam will be even harder."

"That woman really doesn't know how to read the room..." Sudo muttered, turning his head away.

Karuizawa Kei cheerfully hooked her arm through Hirata's. "My Hirata put in effort too, you know. Shouldn't we show some appreciation?"

Hirata Yosuke gave a wry smile as he tried to smooth things over. "Why don't we all go celebrate at Palette after school?"

Since it was an event girls would be attending, Ike and Yamauchi were the first to agree. Ayanokoji continued playing the role of an "ordinary student" and agreed as well.

At that moment, Sudo looked toward Horikita, whose lips had just parted—

"I'll study seriously next week!" Before Horikita could speak, Sudo raised his hand and swore an oath, forcibly choking back her refusal.

"Then we can look forward to lining up this evening!"

The setting sun shone through the shattered windows of the gymnasium, carving web-like shadows across Ryuen Kakeru's face.

"One hundred thousand points, gathered in two days?" He held a math answer sheet he had "taken" from a student who bought answers, its corner still stained with coffee. After one glance, he tossed it to Ishizaki.

"Those Class D trash actually scraped together a hundred thousand points?" Ishizaki Daichi ground the paper scraps scattered across the floor beneath his shoe. "I heard Class D has been getting pretty close to Class B."

Ryuen suddenly slapped half a torn sheet against the wall. The ink left behind the messy imprint of "Notice of Sudo Ken's Expulsion Crisis Resolution." "Look at this. Class A sells answers for extra cash, Class B plays the do-gooder, and even Class D has learned to huddle together for warmth..."

Ibuki Mio jumped down from the ventilation duct, a half-eaten cupcake skewered on her book—the most popular item at Palette. "They're holding a celebration at Palette," she said, licking the cream from the tip of a knife. "That transfer student and Class A's little princess are there too."

Ryuen lightly tugged Ibuki's hair, forcing her to tilt her head back.

"How did your task go?"

"Hmph!" Ibuki forcefully brushed Ryuen's arm aside.

"Like you said, I intercepted the students buying answers and sold the answers to the first-years before Class A could. We got roughly one hundred thousand points, and every Class C student had a copy of the answers during the exam."

A cold smile curled at Ryuen's lips. "And even with everyone having the answers, Class C still came in last in the class rankings."

This situation made Ryuen realize that Class C's raw ability did not seem to be any higher than Class D's. Ryuen Kakeru stood in the center of the gymnasium, his gaze sweeping over Ishizaki Daichi, Ibuki Mio, and the others before him.

He developed a strong interest in Ayanokoji's methods. A Class D student had managed to gather one hundred thousand points in such a short time and even strike a deal with Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A. Such methods and courage were not something an ordinary person could possess.

He turned toward Ishizaki Daichi and Ibuki Mio, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "Class C's chaos is over. It's time to show our strength. We'll start with Class D and let them know who truly controls this school."

During this period, Ryuen had already tested Class A, Class B, and Class D. "Class A doesn't need consideration for now. If Class C rises to Class B, then Class A will be our first target.

"As for Class B, they are united like an iron barrel, but iron barrels are most afraid of rust forming from within." There was no need to rush that matter for now. But Class D—Class D was their current enemy.

Ryuen gathered the scraps of paper scattered on the floor. "Everyone had exam answers, yet Class C still came in last..." One hand clenched around the scraps before letting them fall like scattered petals into the nearby trash can. "Looks like we need to add a little something to Class D's 'unity game.'"