Ten minutes later, the two thugs were securely tied to chairs, with cloth stuffed in their mouths. Tang Yu set a disposable phone (redeemed through the system for 100 points) in front of them. The screen displayed a prepared message:
[Tell Ryuen the game has changed. If he dares to release any private photos of students, this recording and your statements will immediately be sent to the School Board and the Police Station.
Before noon tomorrow, I want the originals and backups of every photo placed in a locker at the east exit of Shinjuku Station. Leave the key in the usual place.]
"'The usual place'? Ayanokoji rarely showed curiosity."
"The locker Karuizawa used in middle school," Tang Yu explained. "Ryuen will understand."
By the time they left the apartment building, it was already late at night. The streets were deserted, with only the streetlights casting long shadows. Tang Yu suddenly sensed something amiss—someone in a black car not far away was watching them.
"You go first," Tang Yu whispered. "We have a tail."
Ayanokoji gave an almost imperceptible nod and turned to head in the opposite direction. Tang Yu pretended not to notice the watcher and casually walked toward the subway station. The black car followed slowly, keeping a moderate distance.
The system suddenly displayed a warning:
[High-threat surveillance detected] [Identity confirmed: Tsukishiro Shuhei] [Special Evaluator of the School Board] [Hostility: 70%]
Tang Yu stayed calm, but his heart involuntarily began to race. The fact that an evaluator from the School Board had come in person meant their "interest" in him had intensified. He deliberately took a roundabout route and only returned to the secret apartment after making sure no one was following him.
Karuizawa Kei was still awake, curled up on the sofa watching TV. The moment she saw Tang Yu come in, she jumped up. "How did it go?"
"It's taken care of." Tang Yu briefly explained what had happened and played part of the recording. "Once we get the original photos tomorrow, you'll be completely free."
Karuizawa's eyes widened. She suddenly rushed over and hugged Tang Yu tightly. "Thank you... Really... Thank you..." Her voice choked with emotion, and her body trembled slightly.
Tang Yu gently patted her back and activated "Emotional Link" to sense her emotions—relief and joy, deep gratitude, and something warmer and more complicated...
[Deep emotional response from Karuizawa Kei +500] [Affection increased to 90/100] [Emotion Points exceeded 100,000!] ["Emotion Weaving Network" ability unlocked] [Can simultaneously sense and influence the emotional states of multiple people]
Tang Yu's eyes lit up at this new ability. If "Group Emotional Link" had only let him vaguely influence the emotions of multiple people, then "Emotion Weaving Network" allowed him to tailor different emotional influences to different targets, building a complex network of interpersonal interactions.
Karuizawa finally let go and wiped her tears. "I... I never told you exactly what happened with the photos..."
"You don't have to force yourself."
"No, you should know." Karuizawa took a deep breath and sat down on the sofa. "Back in middle school... I was bullied by a few delinquent upperclassmen.
"They locked me in a bathroom and forced me to take off my clothes so they could take pictures... They threatened to post them online if I told a teacher."
Tang Yu listened in silence, using "Environmental Emotion Infiltration" to fill the room with a sense of safety. Karuizawa's account came in fits and starts, and at times she could barely speak through her sobs, but she persevered and told him the whole story—how she transferred schools,
how she pretended to be a strong "queen" at her new school, how she thought the nightmare was over, until Ryuen found those photos...
"It's all over now," Tang Yu said gently. "Those photos will be gone tomorrow. And..." He activated his newly acquired "Emotion Weaving Network" and wove a special emotional state for Karuizawa—a blend of self-acceptance and inner strength. "You're stronger than you think."
Karuizawa stared at him, tears glimmering in her eyes under the light. "Tang Yu... Who are you, really? Why... why are you helping me like this?"
"I'm a friend," Tang Yu said with a smile. "Isn't that enough?"
Karuizawa seemed about to say something, but in the end, she only nodded, a genuine smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
Late that night, Tang Yu stood before the apartment's floor-to-ceiling window, reviewing the day's actions. On the surface, he had won a great victory—he had subdued Ryuen's men and obtained crucial evidence.
He was about to resolve Karuizawa's crisis. But the bigger challenges were only just beginning: Ayanokoji's uncharacteristic willingness to help, the Student Council's sudden involvement, and, above all, the appearance of the School Board evaluator...
The System Interface opened, displaying the latest relationship network:
[Karuizawa Kei: 90/100 (Deep Dependence)] [Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: 60/100 (Cautious Cooperation)] [Horikita Suzune: 85/100 (Strategic Partner)] [Tsukishiro Shuhei: Hostility 70%] [Ryuen Kakeru: Hostility 80%]
Tomorrow was the first day of classes in the new term, and the start of his direct confrontation with Ryuen. With the evidence he had obtained today, he could bring Ryuen down immediately.
But his instincts told him it wouldn't be that simple. There might be a greater force behind Ryuen, and the School Board's interest in him was an even bigger unknown.
[Mission updated: Respond to the School Board evaluation] [Reward: Unlock special privileges based on performance]
Tang Yu closed the system and looked out at the Tokyo nightscape. Somewhere in this sleepless city, Ryuen was probably raging, Tsukishiro Shuhei was writing his evaluation report, and Horikita Manabu was planning the Student Council's transition... And Tang Yu, with the Emotion System, stood at the center of this complex web.
A sliver of light still showed beneath the door to Karuizawa's bedroom. Tang Yu knocked gently. "Still awake?"
"Come in..." Karuizawa's voice sounded hesitant.
Tang Yu pushed open the door and saw Karuizawa sitting on the edge of her bed, holding a photo album. She patted the space beside her. "Could you... stay with me for a while?"
Tang Yu sat beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them. Karuizawa opened the album and pointed to one of the photos—a picture of her in middle school, smiling shyly, almost unrecognizable from the person she was now.
"I want to start over," she said softly. "Stop pretending and be myself... Do you think that's possible?"
Tang Yu activated "Emotion Weaving Network," but this time he didn't use it to influence Karuizawa's emotions. Instead, he formed a pure connection with her—without any ulterior motive, just understanding and companionship.
"Of course it is," he said sincerely. "And... I'll help you."
Karuizawa leaned against his shoulder, and they sat quietly together as Tokyo's lights glittered outside like a river of stars. The new term had begun, and tonight, at least for this moment, brought a rare calm before the storm.
Before you continue