Tang Yu remotely unlocked the lobby door and activated Environmental Emotion Infiltration, filling the apartment entrance with a sense of calm to help Karuizawa settle down.
The elevator doors opened, and Karuizawa rushed in, her face pale. "They found out where I live! They said if I don't cooperate with Ryuen's plan, they'll..."
Tang Yu handed her a cup of hot tea—the Calming Tea he'd redeemed through the system for 30 points—but her hands were still trembling.
"Take a moment to rest." Tang Yu guided her to the sofa. "How did they find out?"
"Kushida Kikyo." Karuizawa gritted her teeth. "She pretended to befriend me and tricked me into telling her about my connection to you. Then Ryuen sent people to follow me..."
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception. Karuizawa's Emotion Cloud was a mix of dark gray fear and red anger. This was more serious than he'd expected—Ryuen had already begun using outside forces.
"You're safe here." Tang Yu showed her the newly installed security system. "No one can enter this building unless I let them in, let alone this apartment."
Karuizawa looked around, then suddenly realized something. "This is... your place?"
"I just bought it today," Tang Yu said casually.
Karuizawa's eyes widened. "How can a student afford... such a luxurious apartment...?" Her voice trailed off, and a complicated emotion flickered in her eyes. "Who are you, Tang Yu?"
She'd asked the question sooner than Tang Yu had expected. He activated Emotional Link and decided to be partly honest: "Someone who can protect his friends. That's enough, isn't it?"
Karuizawa stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
[Deep dependence from Karuizawa Kei +500]
[Affection increased to 85/100]
[Current Emotion Points: 70500/∞]
The sudden embrace caught Tang Yu off guard. He gently patted Karuizawa's back while keeping an eye on the activity downstairs through the cameras. The two suspicious figures were still lurking nearby, but for now, they couldn't get into the building.
"You'll need to stay here for a few days," Tang Yu said, letting go of Karuizawa. "Until the new school year begins and things settle down. I've prepared a spare bedroom."
Karuizawa nodded, then blushed. "So... it'll just be the two of us?"
Tang Yu chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in taking advantage of you. There are two bedrooms here, each with its own bathroom."
He showed Karuizawa around the apartment. When she saw the spacious walk-in closet, her eyes lit up—even in danger, her girlish instincts were still there.
"Could I use the bathroom?" Karuizawa asked. "I'm covered in cold sweat..."
"Of course." Tang Yu took a brand-new towel and bathrobe from the closet, both redeemed through the system for 20 points. "Just let me know if you need anything."
While Karuizawa showered, Tang Yu checked the security system again and considered what to do next. Ryuen's use of outside forces was a dangerous sign that he was escalating his methods. And Kushida Kikyo's involvement made the situation even more complicated.
When the sound of running water stopped, Karuizawa came out wearing a bathrobe that was far too big for her. Her wet blond hair hung over her shoulders, and she looked much more vulnerable than usual.
"I... I didn't bring a change of clothes," she said awkwardly.
Tang Yu took a few neutral-style T-shirts and sweatpants from the wardrobe he'd just stocked. "Wear these for now. I can have someone bring you some women's clothes tomorrow."
Karuizawa took the clothes, her fingers accidentally brushing Tang Yu's hand. They both froze for a moment.
"Tang Yu..." Karuizawa began, then hesitated. "If... if those people find this place..."
"They won't get in," Tang Yu said firmly. Then he activated Emotion Field, filling the space with a sense of security. "And I promise I'll keep you safe."
Karuizawa looked at him for a long moment, then nodded and went back to the bedroom.
That night, in the study he'd turned into a temporary command center, Tang Yu redeemed several pieces of surveillance equipment through the system and set them up around the apartment building. As he tested the devices, a familiar signal appeared at the edge of the camera feed—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
The usually expressionless boy stood in the shadow of the building across the street, staring directly at the window where Tang Yu was, as if he knew someone was watching him. A moment later, he disappeared silently into the night.
[Deep attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +300]
[Current Emotion Points: 70800/∞]
Less than an hour later, the cameras picked up another familiar figure—Student Council Vice President Kiriyama Ikiteru. He was pacing beneath the apartment building with some kind of device in his hand, seemingly recording something.
"Interesting," Tang Yu murmured to himself. "Two big fish in one day."
It seemed his secret base wasn't so secret anymore. Still, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing—letting himself be seen could serve as bait and draw out more hidden opponents.
Late that night, Tang Yu stood on the private rooftop, looking out over Tokyo's nightscape. A thought he'd had just three days ago had now become reality. The apartment was more than a physical space; it would also become an important stronghold in the complicated game he was playing at the school.
Karuizawa's unexpected arrival had disrupted some of his plans, but it had also brought new possibilities. By protecting her, Tang Yu could strengthen the trust between them and learn more inside information about the Ryuen Group.
[Special Alert: Multiple factions have taken an interest]
[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Attention: 85%]
[Kiriyama Ikiteru Hostility: 75%]
[Ryuen Group Threat Level: 65%]
The system's alerts kept flashing in the night, like stars scattered across the sky. Tang Yu stood by the window and took a deep breath of the cool air, savoring the quiet of the night.
The new school year would begin in three days, and the game was about to enter an entirely new phase. Tang Yu's heart was filled with anticipation and excitement. He knew the days ahead would bring both challenges and opportunities.
And now, he was better prepared than anyone. Over the past few days, he'd kept studying and researching, gaining a deeper understanding of the game's rules and strategies. He believed that as long as he stayed calm and focused, he would do even better in the new school year.
Tang Yu turned away from the window and went back to the living room. He saw Karuizawa curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. She clutched her phone tightly, as if waiting for some important message.
Tang Yu walked over quietly, careful not to wake her. He gently covered her with a blanket and noticed that even in her sleep, her brow was still tightly furrowed, as if she were trying to solve some difficult problem.
"Get some rest," Tang Yu whispered. "Tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but I believe you'll be able to face them."
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