The Student Council Office door closed soundlessly behind Tang Yu. The air-conditioning seemed to have made the room a few degrees colder than the hallway. Horikita Manabu sat upright behind the broad desk, his gaze sharp as a blade behind his glasses.
Tsukishiro Shuhei lounged by the window, cradling a teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Please sit." Horikita Manabu gestured for Tang Yu to take the chair opposite him.
Tang Yu kept up his calm façade as he activated the Emotion Weaving Network. Horikita Manabu's Emotion Cloud was a mix of deep-blue composure and golden calculation.
Tsukishiro Shuhei's emotions, meanwhile, were like a cloud of mist. The system was having trouble analyzing them accurately—a first.
"Tea or coffee?" Tsukishiro asked suddenly, his voice almost affectedly warm.
"Neither, thank you." Tang Yu politely declined, focusing his attention on Horikita Manabu. "What did you want to see me about, President?"
Horikita Manabu folded his hands on the desk. "About last night. Secretary Tachibana reported... an unusual situation."
Tang Yu had come prepared. "Ryuen Kakeru hired outsiders to threaten a student at this school. The evidence is conclusive." He took out backup copies of the audio recording and communication logs. "I've already redacted Karuizawa's personal information."
Horikita Manabu took the files and quickly skimmed through them. At some point, Tsukishiro had come to stand behind Tang Yu. The invisible pressure made the hairs on the back of Tang Yu's neck stand on end.
"Interesting." Tsukishiro's voice came from above him. "A transfer student who's been here less than two weeks has solved the Ryuen Kakeru problem that's plagued this school for years."
Tang Yu didn't turn around. "I just happened to find a clue."
"Just happened to?" Tsukishiro chuckled and circled around to crouch in front of Tang Yu, meeting his gaze. "According to my investigation, your record before transferring here was... quite ordinary.
"How could an ordinary student be so skilled at setting traps and interrogating delinquents?"
Tang Yu's pupils contracted slightly. Tsukishiro Shuhei had investigated him! The system suddenly displayed a warning:
[Psychic probe detected] [Source: Tsukishiro Shuhei] [Recommendation: Activate defensive measures]
Tang Yu immediately exchanged 3,000 points for the Emotion Shield ability, erecting an invisible barrier around his consciousness. Tsukishiro's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He had clearly sensed something amiss.
"Mr. Tsukishiro," Horikita Manabu interrupted, "this is Student Council business."
Tsukishiro shrugged and stood up. "Of course. I was just curious." He walked back to the window, but Tang Yu could still feel his attention fixed on him.
Horikita Manabu set down the files. "The evidence is sufficient. The Student Council will handle the matter with Ryuen. But I want to know"—he looked straight into Tang Yu's eyes—"what are your motives?"
"My motives?"
"Don't play dumb." Horikita Manabu's tone remained calm, but a flash of red crossed his Emotion Cloud. "Someone capable of subduing delinquents and gathering crucial evidence—why hide away in Class D? With your abilities, you could transfer straight into Class A."
Tang Yu didn't answer immediately. The question touched the very heart of his plan. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, he could sense that Horikita Manabu wasn't acting out of hostility.
He was simply thinking logically. In the Student Council president's eyes, every action needed a rational explanation.
"What do you think this school exists for, President?" Tang Yu countered.
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow. "To cultivate elites and identify true leaders."
"Then what qualities should a leader have?"
"Wisdom, decisiveness, and the ability to lead." Horikita Manabu answered without hesitation.
Tang Yu shook his head. "You're missing one thing—empathy. A true leader must understand and make good use of every member of the team."
He pointed out the window at the campus. "This school divides students into Classes A, B, C, and D, but ignores the complexity of human nature. Class D students aren't talentless; they've just been labeled 'defective.'"
Horikita Manabu's expression shifted for the first time. "Idealistic nonsense."
"Whether it's idealism or foresight will soon be put to the test." Tang Yu spoke confidently. "In two weeks, Class D will prove its worth in the Debate Tournament."
Tsukishiro suddenly cut in. "An interesting argument. However..." He waved his phone. "The School Board has some... reservations about your 'heroic actions' last night. Why would an ordinary high school student be so good at handling dangerous situations?"
Tang Yu's Emotion Shield trembled faintly. Tsukishiro's words seemed to carry some kind of psychic suggestion.
He steadied himself. "My father is a police detective. He taught me some self-defense techniques when I was young."
"Is that so?" Tsukishiro narrowed his eyes. "What a coincidence. I know quite a few people at the Metropolitan Police Department. What's your father's name? Which department does he work in?"
A trap! Tang Yu's records had been fabricated by the system. He had no father who was a police detective. Without changing his expression, he said, "I'm Chinese. My father is a Chinese police detective."
The atmosphere grew tense at once. Horikita Manabu glanced between them, then said, "Mr. Tsukishiro, the School Board's evaluation should follow the proper procedures."
Tsukishiro smiled and stepped back. "Of course. We'll meet again soon, Tang." He walked toward the door, then stopped. "Oh, I hear you're organizing debate training for Class D. I look forward to seeing the results."
After the door closed, the pressure in the room seemed to ease. Horikita Manabu took off his glasses and wiped them. "Tsukishiro Shuhei is the School Board's most dangerous evaluator. He specializes in handling 'problem students.' You've drawn his attention, which was unwise."
"I didn't go looking for him. He came looking for me." Tang Yu frowned. "Why is the School Board so interested in me?"
Horikita Manabu put his glasses back on. "Everything at this school revolves around Meritocracy. Anything that could upset the balance draws attention." He paused. "Especially an... anomaly like you."
"An anomaly?" Tang Yu's heart skipped a beat. Had Horikita Manabu noticed the system?
"Your abilities are far beyond those of an ordinary Class D student," Horikita Manabu continued. "Tsukishiro is worried you'll undermine the school's educational philosophy."
Tang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "An educational philosophy shouldn't be afraid of a challenge."
"Perhaps." Horikita Manabu stood, signaling that the meeting was over. "I'll handle the matter with Ryuen. As for you... be careful around Tsukishiro. He isn't as simple as he seems."
By the time Tang Yu left the Student Council Office, his back was soaked. Tsukishiro Shuhei's psychic probe and the traps in his words suggested that the School Board might know something about "abnormal students."
Worse, Tang Yu couldn't read Tsukishiro's emotions the way he could read an ordinary person's. Either the man had undergone special training, or...
[Emotion Points: 95600/∞] [New ability: Emotion Shield (Beginner)] [Can resist psychic probes and suggestions] [Upgrade cost: 50000 points]
The System Interface's update confirmed Tang Yu's suspicion: Tsukishiro Shuhei had some kind of psychic ability! This school was far more complicated than Tang Yu had imagined.
When Tang Yu returned to the Class D classroom, most of the students had already left. Only the debate team's core members remained, discussing their plans. Horikita Suzune was the first to notice him. "What did the president say?"
Tang Yu briefly explained the situation, leaving out Tsukishiro's psychic probe. "The Student Council will handle the matter with Ryuen. For now, we need to focus on the Debate Tournament."
Karuizawa Kei handed him a bottle of water. "You don't look too good."
"I'm fine, just a little tired." Tang Yu took the bottle. His fingertips accidentally brushed Karuizawa's hand, and for an instant, the Emotion Weaving Network let him feel her racing heartbeat and warm cheeks. He quickly pulled away, pretending not to notice.
Hirata Yosuke opened his notebook. "I've outlined the debate structure. Horikita will handle the opening statement and logical arguments, I'll handle rebuttals and team coordination, Karuizawa will handle the emotional appeals, and Tang will give the closing statement."
"That's a good division of labor." Tang Yu nodded. "But we need more classmates involved. The Debate Tournament scores teamwork, so the four of us can't be the only ones participating."
"I've already organized a research group," Horikita Suzune said, to Tang Yu's surprise. "Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Yuki are collecting materials, and Kushida Kikyo is coordinating the girls' group..."
Tang Yu stared at her in surprise. Last term, Horikita Suzune had kept to herself. Now she was taking the initiative to organize a team? Through the Emotion Weaving Network,
he could sense the change within Horikita Suzune. The aloof iceberg was melting, replaced by a new and unfamiliar sense of belonging to a team.
"That's great." Tang Yu smiled. "Tomorrow after school, we'll hold our first mock debate. Everyone, please prepare your own parts tonight."
Night fell as Tang Yu walked back to his apartment alone. The system suddenly sounded an alarm:
[Abnormal emotional fluctuation detected] [Direction: Alley to the left] [Identity: Ryuen Kakeru]
Tang Yu pretended not to notice and kept walking, but secretly activated his Emotion Shield. Sure enough, Ryuen stepped out of the shadows, wearing his trademark vicious grin.
"Transfer student, we need to talk." Ryuen's voice was raspier than usual.
"The photos have been destroyed. The deal is over," Tang Yu said calmly.
Ryuen suddenly grabbed Tang Yu by the collar and dragged him into the alley. "Don't think you've won! Those useless Student Council idiots can't do a damn thing to me!"
Tang Yu didn't resist. Using the Emotion Weaving Network, he read Ryuen's state of mind. Beneath his anger was... fear? That didn't make sense. Ryuen wasn't someone who got scared easily.
"Who's threatening you?" Tang Yu asked suddenly.
Ryuen's hand went still. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your anger is too deliberate." Tang Yu looked straight into Ryuen's eyes. "Someone's forcing you to go after me. Who is it? Tsukishiro Shuhei?"
Ryuen released him and took a step back. "You're even more dangerous than I thought." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Listen, transfer student. This game has been taken to a whole new level. That bastard Tsukishiro... he's different."
"How so?"
Ryuen's expression turned strange. "He... can get inside your head. Make you see... things you shouldn't see." After those cryptic words, the tyrant of Class C hurried off into the night.
Tang Yu stood where he was, digesting Ryuen's warning. It seemed Tsukishiro really did have psychic abilities—and had already used them on Ryuen. A new prompt appeared on the System Interface:
[Mission updated: Investigate Tsukishiro Shuhei's true identity] [Reward: Unlock "Mental Defense Network"] [Danger level: High]
When Tang Yu returned to his apartment, he found Karuizawa Kei waiting outside with two lunch boxes in her hands.
"I thought you might not have had dinner..." she said awkwardly. "I also came to pick up some things I left here."
Tang Yu opened the door and let her in. Karuizawa set out the lunch boxes as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, Tang Yu sensed her feelings: warmth, concern, and a touch of... home?
"Everyone in class was talking about you today," Karuizawa said as she set out the chopsticks. "They said you're Class D's secret weapon."
Tang Yu smiled wryly. "I hope I don't disappoint them."
"You won't," Karuizawa said firmly. "Class D has changed since you came along. Even someone like Horikita is starting to fit in..." She suddenly stopped, her cheeks turning slightly red. "I mean... everyone trusts you."
Tang Yu tasted the lunch box. It was unexpectedly delicious. "Did you make this?"
Karuizawa nodded. "I was often home alone in middle school, so I learned to cook..." Her voice trailed off, and she seemed to remember something unpleasant.
Tang Yu gently soothed her emotions through the Emotion Weaving Network. "It's delicious. Thank you."
They finished dinner in silence. As Karuizawa cleared away the dishes, she suddenly asked, "Tang Yu, why do you go to so much trouble to help everyone? Not just me, but all of Class D..."
Tang Yu thought for a moment. "Maybe... because I saw potential."
"Potential?"
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