Undercurrents in the Special Class

The morning sun spilled into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Tang Yu opened his eyes, and the system interface immediately unfolded in his field of vision:

[Current Emotion Points: 38900/40000]

[Today's Goal: Break 40000 to unlock new ability]

[Special Alert: High-density emotional fluctuation environment detected]

Today is the first day of the Summer Special Training Class. Tang Yu rolled out of bed and took out the carefully prepared outfit from his suitcase—a seemingly ordinary school uniform, but one he had actually upgraded using "Advanced Fabric Improvement" (costing 200 points) via his emotion points.

It looked much crisper and more stylish when worn. Details determine success or failure; in front of this group of elites, every single advantage is crucial.

The villa is located in the mountains and forests on the outskirts of Tokyo and is a venue specifically used by the school for special activities.

When Tang Yu arrived by the morning train, more than twenty students were already gathered in the courtyard. He scanned the crowd quickly and immediately identified several key figures:

Third-year Nagumo Miyabi, the Student Council Vice President and rumored successor to Horikita Manabu, was surrounded by a group of admirers; second-year Tachibana Akane, the Student Council Secretary, stood quietly in a corner reading a book.

Aside from Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka among the first-years, there was also Katsuragi Kohei from Class A, Honami Ichinose from Class B, and... Koenji Rokusuke from Class C?

"Koenji is here too?" Tang Yu muttered to himself. That maverick blonde boy was doing yoga as if no one else were around, completely ignoring the strange looks from those nearby.

"He was specially invited by the School Administration." A familiar voice came from behind. Horikita Suzune stood there, her black hair like a waterfall, possessing a softer curve than usual.

She was wearing the standard school uniform, but the badge on her collar was pinned with extra precision. "It is said that he demonstrated 'extraordinary potential' in certain tests."

Tang Yu nodded in greeting: "Good morning, Horikita-san. Has your leg injury fully healed?"

"Yes." Horikita tapped her right foot lightly; it no longer affected her movement.

The atmosphere between the two was completely different from before the final exams—less confrontational and filled with a subtle, newfound rapport.

Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and found that Horikita's emotional cloud presented a warm beige—calmness tinged with a hint of anticipation.

"Has your brother arrived yet?" Tang Yu asked tentatively.

Horikita's expression tightened instantly: "He is in the conference room. He... takes this training very seriously."

As soon as she finished speaking, the villa's main gate opened, and a tall figure walked out. Without the need for an introduction, Tang Yu immediately recognized the man—Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President, a legendary figure within the school.

He was even more imposing than imagined. Standing nearly 1.9 meters tall with sharp, angular features, his eyes behind black-rimmed glasses were as keen as a hawk's. Even in a standard school uniform, he carried an aura as formidable as if he were wearing armor.

"Assemble." Horikita Manabu's voice was not loud, yet it made the entire courtyard fall silent instantly.

The students quickly lined up in three rows. Tang Yu deliberately stood in the middle, allowing him to observe the entire scene without being too conspicuous. However, after Horikita Manabu scanned the crowd, his gaze lingered on him for half a second—long enough to convey a clear message: You have been noticed.

"This special training class will last for two weeks." Horikita Manabu went straight to the point. "The goal is to unearth your potential through high-intensity training."

"The rules are simple: follow discipline, complete assignments, and the comprehensive assessment on the final day will determine whether you stay or leave."

"Leave?" someone asked in a low voice.

"The bottom 10% in the rankings will be expelled and lose all eligibility for honors next semester." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses. "Now, the first lesson begins. Classical literature analysis, taught by me. The classroom is on the second floor, five minutes."

The crowd immediately moved into the villa. Tang Yu was about to follow when he suddenly felt his sleeve being tugged. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had appeared beside him at some point, his greyish-white eyes unfathomable.

"Watch out for Nagumo," he whispered, then vanished into the crowd.

Tang Yu frowned. Nagumo Miyabi? That seemingly sunny Student Council Vice President? He activated Emotion Perception to scan his surroundings and indeed caught abnormal fluctuations coming from Nagumo's direction—on the surface, cheerful enthusiasm, but deep inside, dark grey calculations.

[Attention from Nagumo Miyabi +100]

[Current Emotion Points: 39000/40000]

The classroom was in a traditional Japanese style, with low tables and cushions placed on the tatami mats. Tang Yu chose a seat by the window, which allowed him to observe the entire room while benefiting from natural light.

Horikita Suzune sat diagonally in front of him, her back straight as a board; Ayanokoji chose a seat in the furthest corner, as if trying to blend into the wall.

Horikita Manabu stood at the podium. Without using any slides or projectors, he simply picked up a thread-bound copy of The Tale of the Heike.

"Today, we will analyze the 'Battle of Uji' section from volume four of The Tale of the Heike." His voice was calm and penetrating. "First, who can summarize this content?"

Several hands went up, including Horikita Suzune's. Tang Yu noticed that Horikita Manabu deliberately ignored his sister, choosing a third-year student to answer instead.

After the standard answer was finished, Horikita Manabu suddenly asked: "Why did Taira no Kiyomori choose to withdraw his troops after victory instead of pursuing the enemy? Historical evaluations consider this a major mistake; what do you think?"

The classroom fell into silence. This question seemed simple but actually contained a trap—a re-evaluation under the weight of historical consensus. Tang Yu saw Horikita Suzune's fingers tremble slightly; she clearly knew the answer but dared not raise her hand, fearing her brother would think she was showing off.

"Tang Yu." Horikita Manabu called his name directly. "Your thoughts?"

The entire room's gaze focused on him instantly. Tang Yu remained calm and activated "Emotional Link" to try and capture Horikita Manabu's intent, only to be bounced back by an invisible barrier—this man's emotional control was terrifyingly strong.

"It was not a mistake, but a calculated move." Tang Yu stood up slowly. "Taira no Kiyomori understood the principle that 'a total victory is not the best of the best.' Although the Taira clan had won, their losses were significant, and continuing the pursuit could have led to a war of attrition. Withdrawing allowed him to preserve his strength while cultivating an image of benevolence, paving the way for subsequent political maneuvering."

The classroom was dead silent. This answer not only challenged the historical consensus but also displayed strategic thinking that surpassed that of a high school student. Horikita Manabu's glasses reflected the light from the window, making it impossible to see his eyes.

"An interesting perspective," he finally commented, "but you ignored the perspective of the Minamoto clan. If Minamoto no Yoshitsune had been at that time..."

"Minamoto no Yoshitsune was recuperating in the Hokuriku region." Tang Yu interrupted him, neither humble nor arrogant. "Taira no Kiyomori's intelligence network could not have been unaware of this. Precisely because of that, he needed to preserve his strength even more, rather than exhausting his elite forces in a minor local victory."

The room was in an uproar. Tang Yu might be the first first-year student to dare interrupt Horikita Manabu and insist on his own opinion.

[Shock from the entire room +500]

[Complex emotions from Horikita Suzune +200]

[Current Emotion Points: 39700/40000]