The Special Hearing (Part 2)

The two walked in silence for a while. Tang Yu remembered something. "Your fighting ability at the Gymnasium that day... was that also...?"

"The result of basic White Room training," Ayanokoji replied briefly. "But your system is more unusual. I can't fully replicate it."

When they reached the school gate, Ayanokoji suddenly turned down a side path. "I have to go. Tsukishiro may have already notified the organization. I need to lie low for a while."

"Wait." Tang Yu stopped him. "How are we supposed to keep in touch? If Tsukishiro..."

"Use this." Ayanokoji handed him an old-fashioned pager. "It has an encrypted channel and can only send number codes. Press 999 in an emergency, and I'll find you."

Tang Yu took the antique-looking device. "Why are you helping me?"

Ayanokoji gazed into the distance, his expression inscrutable. "Maybe... I want to see how far Class D can go, too."

"Maybe... I'm just tired of being a test subject." He paused. "Look after Karuizawa. Tsukishiro likes to target people who matter to his targets."

With that, he turned and left, soon disappearing at the end of the path beneath the drifting cherry blossoms.

Tang Yu stood where he was, trying to process everything that had happened that day. The System Interface unfolded automatically:

[Mission Update: Protect Karuizawa Kei, investigate the White Room]

[Clue Obtained: Tsukishiro Shuhei's true identity]

[Emotion Points: 72300/∞]

[New Ability: Memory Projection (Temporary)]

[Effect: Converts specific emotions into tangible images]

[Cost: 15000 points/use]

The new ability seemed powerful, but the cost was staggering. Just as Tang Yu was about to examine it more closely, he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

"Tang Yu!"

He turned. Karuizawa Kei came running toward him, panting, her cheeks flushed from the run. "I heard you were called to the principal's office. What happened?"

Seeing the worry in her eyes, Tang Yu hesitated. Telling her the truth would only put her in greater danger. "Nothing. They just asked me a few routine questions about yesterday."

Karuizawa clearly didn't believe him, but she didn't press. She took Tang Yu's hand. "Come on, everyone's waiting for us. Hirata said we should celebrate winning the Debate Tournament."

Class D held its celebration in an empty classroom. There were only some simple snacks and drinks, but the atmosphere was lively. When Tang Yu and Karuizawa arrived together, their classmates cheered.

"Our hero has arrived!" Kanji Ike bowed exaggeratedly.

"Today's debate was amazing!" A few girls crowded around Karuizawa. "Especially when you talked about your own experiences. I cried!"

Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing in a corner, watching everything thoughtfully. He went over to her. "Thanks for today."

Horikita shook her head slightly. "I only did what was right." She lowered her voice. "That Tsukishiro... there's something wrong with him."

"You felt it too?"

"It wasn't just a feeling." Horikita's gaze sharpened. "When he tapped on the table, my thoughts became... fuzzy. If I hadn't suddenly come to my senses, I might have agreed to all his proposals."

Tang Yu felt a chill. Horikita Manabu seemed to have been affected too, though he didn't remember the details. Tsukishiro's abilities were more dangerous than they'd imagined.

Halfway through the celebration, Tang Yu noticed a familiar figure flash past the classroom's back door—Ryuen Kakeru. The tyrant of Class C was unusually alone.

He watched Class D celebrating with a complicated expression. When he realized Tang Yu had noticed him, Ryuen gestured for him to follow, then disappeared into the hallway.

Tang Yu made an excuse to go to the bathroom and followed. Ryuen was waiting for him in the stairwell. Uncharacteristically, he didn't provoke Tang Yu. Instead, he showed him the strange device on his arm: a tiny metal plate embedded in his skin, with traces of surgical healing around it.

"Tsukishiro implanted this control device in me." Ryuen's voice was hoarse. "It can amplify my aggression, and it can also make me suffer unbearable pain."

Tang Yu watched him warily. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I've figured things out." Ryuen grinned, baring beastlike fangs. "I'd rather work with you to take Tsukishiro down than be his lab rat."

"Work together?" Tang Yu couldn't believe it. "The thirty-person ambush at the Gymnasium..."

"Tsukishiro was controlling them." Fear flickered in Ryuen's eyes. "He can put things in your head... make you see illusions and alter your memories."

Tang Yu recalled the nightmare Karuizawa had described, and suddenly understood. Tsukishiro had been laying the groundwork for this day all along.

"I'll think about it," Tang Yu finally said.

Ryuen sneered. "Don't take too long. Tsukishiro's under investigation by the school right now, which makes this the most dangerous time." He turned to leave, then stopped. "By the way, watch out for Karuizawa. Tsukishiro especially wants her. He says her emotional patterns are 'precious.'"

The words made Tang Yu's blood run cold. He returned to the celebration and immediately looked for Karuizawa. She was chatting with Hirata and the others, safe for the moment.

But Ryuen's warning lingered in his mind. Tsukishiro wouldn't give up, and Karuizawa was the weakest link.

After the celebration ended, Tang Yu insisted on walking Karuizawa back to her dorm. Night had fallen, and cherry blossoms drifted down like snow in the moonlight. Karuizawa suddenly stopped.

"What happened today, really?" She looked straight into Tang Yu's eyes. "Don't lie to me. I can tell something's wrong."

Tang Yu hesitated, then decided to tell her part of the truth. "Tsukishiro Shuhei is dangerous. He... has a special interest in you."

Karuizawa's face turned pale. "Because of how I've changed?"

"Yeah. But don't worry, I'll protect you." Tang Yu took her hand. "Just be extra careful for now. Don't go anywhere alone, and contact me immediately if anything seems strange."

Karuizawa nodded, then suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and gave Tang Yu a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Thank you... for everything you've done for me."

The unexpected kiss left Tang Yu stunned. Karuizawa's face instantly turned bright red, and she turned to run off, but Tang Yu gently pulled her back. They gazed at each other beneath the cherry tree. The moonlight edged her golden hair in silver, and the feelings in her eyes were pure and fervent.

"I..." Tang Yu had just begun to speak when the system suddenly sounded a shrill alarm:

[Remote surveillance detected]

[Direction: Rooftop to the right]

[Identity: Tsukishiro Shuhei]

Tang Yu instinctively stepped in front of Karuizawa to shield her and looked toward the rooftop on the right. In the moonlight, a blurry figure was aiming some kind of device at them.

When Tang Yu met his gaze, the man—undoubtedly Tsukishiro—made a throat-slitting gesture, then vanished into the night.

"What's wrong?" Karuizawa asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Tang Yu forced himself to relax. "Come on. I'll walk you to your dorm."

When they parted, Karuizawa reluctantly let go of his hand. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Tang Yu smiled, but alarm bells were ringing inside him. Tsukishiro had already set his sights on Karuizawa, and Tang Yu's system still wasn't enough to keep them both safe.

He needed more allies, more power, and... more information about the White Room.

Back at his apartment, Tang Yu opened his computer and began organizing all the clues. The System Interface displayed the latest mission:

[Main Mission: Thwart the White Room's conspiracy]

[Current Progress: 35%]

[Next Objective: Contact Ayanokoji and obtain more information]

[Threat Level: Extremely High]

Outside the window, a blood-red moon slowly rose, an ill omen. Tang Yu knew the real battle had only just begun.