Photos

"Don't worry. This actually gives us an opportunity. Before Tang Yu deleted the program, he modified the code so the software would show Karuizawa still at her old residence. We can use their own plan against them and draw them out."

Karuizawa's eyes widened. "You mean... set a trap?"

"Exactly." Tang Yu smiled. "I'll be waiting for them at your old apartment tonight. But first, I need you to remember what exactly Ryuen meant by 'the photos.'"

Karuizawa's face instantly went pale. "When I was in middle school... some delinquents forced me to take some... inappropriate pictures..." Her voice grew quieter. "I thought transferring schools would make it all go away..."

Tang Yu activated "Emotional Link" and instantly sensed the shame and fear buried deep in Karuizawa's heart. This kind of trauma couldn't be healed with a few simple words of comfort.

"Listen." He took Karuizawa's trembling hand. "It wasn't your fault. And I promise those pictures will never be made public."

Tears glimmered in Karuizawa's eyes. "Can you really do that?"

"Trust me." Tang Yu's voice was as firm as steel.

[Deep Dependence from Karuizawa Kei +300]

[Current Emotion Points: 83000/∞]

At lunchtime, Tang Yu went to the rooftop alone to check the apartment surveillance feed. The two watchers were still lurking nearby, apparently unaware that the tracking software had been tampered with. He was about to put away his phone when he suddenly sensed someone approaching.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka appeared beside him like a ghost. "Kushida went to Class C and spoke privately with Ryuen for ten minutes. I don't know what they discussed, but she came out with a small USB drive."

"Bribery or blackmail?" Tang Yu asked.

"Both." Ayanokoji looked into the distance. "Ryuen has some secret of hers, just like Karuizawa."

This confirmed Tang Yu's suspicions: Ryuen was systematically gathering "dirt" on every class, preparing to launch a large-scale psychological campaign.

"What do you think of the 'Expulsion Vote' this new term?" Ayanokoji abruptly changed the subject.

"A classic divide-and-conquer strategy," Tang Yu analyzed. "Make the weak attack one another instead of uniting against the strong."

Ayanokoji nodded. "Horikita Manabu designed it. He's testing something..."

Their conversation was interrupted by an uproar. In the courtyard below, the Class C students suddenly began chanting in unison: "Hunting season has begun! Class D is the target!" Ryuen stood in their midst, raising his fist like a general commanding his troops.

"A brazen declaration of war." Tang Yu sneered.

A rare flicker of emotion crossed Ayanokoji's face. "It's more than a declaration of war... It's a distraction. Ryuen is hiding his real weapon."

This insight made Tang Yu reassess the situation. Indeed, given Ryuen's cunning, he wouldn't rely solely on open provocation. The "hunting" chants were likely just a smokescreen, concealing a more dangerous plan.

[Intelligence Shared by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +300]

[Emotion Points have exceeded 90000!]

["Group Emotional Link" ability unlocked]

[Can establish deep emotional connections with multiple people simultaneously]

This new ability had come at just the right time. Facing Ryuen's psychological campaign, Tang Yu needed more powerful means of manipulating emotions to unite Class D.

The afternoon classes were uneventful, but the atmosphere in the classroom had grown noticeably tense. Ryuen's "hunting" declaration had spread, and Class D students huddled in small groups, discussing countermeasures while eyeing one another with suspicion—the new term's "Expulsion Vote" rules were already in effect.

After school, Tang Yu went to Section A on the third floor of the library as agreed. Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yosuke, and, unexpectedly, Ken Sudō were already waiting there.

"The situation is worse than we thought." Horikita got straight to the point. "Ryuen has not only bought off Kushida, but also contacted three other people in our class. He plans to expose Karuizawa's 'dirt' in front of everyone at the Debate Tournament and stir up chaos in Class D."

Hirata added, "Worse still, the threat of the 'Expulsion Vote' has everyone in class on edge. If a scandal breaks out now, people might vote for Karuizawa to protect themselves..."

"Damn Ryuen!" Sudō slammed his fist on the table, drawing a glare from the librarian. "Why don't we just beat him up?"

"Violence won't solve anything," Horikita said coldly. "We need evidence that Ryuen is coercing our classmates so we can report him to the School Administration."

Tang Yu shook his head. "That would take too long. The School Administration allows this kind of competition. As long as no written rules are broken, they won't interfere."

"Then what do we do?" Hirata asked anxiously.

Tang Yu looked around at the three of them and activated his newly acquired "Group Emotional Link," connecting with Horikita, Hirata, and Sudō simultaneously.

In an instant, he sensed their emotional fluctuations: beneath Horikita's calm resolve lay a trace of concern about her brother's opinion of her; Hirata's sincere worry was mixed with doubts about his own leadership; and beneath Sudō's anger was a loneliness born of feeling unrecognized.

"First, protect Karuizawa," Tang Yu said steadily. "I'll deal with the people tracking her tonight. Second, gather evidence of Ryuen's crimes—using people from outside the school already violates school rules. Finally, and most importantly..."

He paused, strengthening the emotion of "unity" in the connection. "We need to truly unite Class D instead of suspecting one another. The threat of the 'Expulsion Vote' only works when the class is divided."

Horikita pondered this. "You mean... create a common enemy?"

"Exactly." Tang Yu nodded. "And Ryuen has already given us the perfect target—himself."

The four of them discussed their plan in detail. By the time the meeting ended, night had fallen. Tang Yu politely declined Hirata's invitation to dinner. He had something more important to do: attend his "date" with the watchers.

As Tang Yu was leaving school, his senses picked up an unusual presence. A black car was parked by the school gate, its window slightly open, revealing a pair of sharp eyes.

It wasn't a student or a faculty member, but a middle-aged man Tang Yu had never seen before, intently watching the crowd leaving school.

The system suddenly displayed a warning:

[High-threat target detected]

[Identity identified: Tsukishiro Shuhei]

[Special Evaluator of the School Board]

[Hostility: Unknown]

Tang Yu walked past without showing any reaction, pretending not to notice the scrutinizing gaze. But alarm bells were already ringing in his mind—the School Board's "special evaluation" had come much sooner than he expected.

Night fell. Tang Yu stood inside the convenience store opposite Karuizawa's old apartment, watching the two delinquents still keeping guard through the surveillance feed.

They looked impatient now, checking their phones repeatedly—the fake location information showed Karuizawa was on her way home.

"The game begins." Tang Yu murmured to himself as he adjusted his gloves, ready to face the first real contest of the new term.