Special Hearing (Part 2)

The two walked in silence for a while. Tang Yu remembered something: "That day at the Gymnasium, the combat ability you displayed was also...?"

"The result of White Room basic training," Ayanokoji answered briefly, "but your system is more unique; I cannot fully replicate it."

Reaching the school gate, Ayanokoji suddenly turned into a side path: "I have to go. Tsukishiro may have already notified the organization; I must hide for a while."

"Wait." Tang Yu stopped him, "How should we contact each other? If Tsukishiro..."

"Use this." Ayanokoji handed over an old-fashioned pager, "Encrypted channel, can only send numeric codes. Press 999 in an emergency, and I will find you."

Tang Yu took the antique-like device: "Why are you helping me?"

Ayanokoji looked into the distance, his eyes becoming unfathomable: "Perhaps... I also want to see how far Class D can go."

"Perhaps... I am just tired of being a test subject." He paused, "Take care of Karuizawa. Tsukishiro likes to target those the subject cares about most."

After saying this, he turned and left, quickly disappearing at the end of the path where cherry blossoms were fluttering.

Tang Yu stood where he was, digesting the amount of information from today. The system interface expanded automatically:

[Task Updated: Protect Karuizawa Kei, investigate the White Room]

[Clue Obtained: Tsukishiro Shuhei's true identity]

[Emotional Value: 72300/∞]

[New Ability: Memory Projection (Temporary)]

[Effect: Converts specific emotions into tangible images]

[Cost: 15,000 points/use]

This new ability looked powerful, but the cost was also staggering. Tang Yu was just about to delve deeper when he suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind him.

"Tang Yu!"

He turned around, and Karuizawa Kei ran over, panting, her cheeks flushed from running: "I heard you were called to the principal's office? What happened?"

Looking at her worried eyes, Tang Yu hesitated for a moment. Telling her the truth would only put her in greater danger. "Nothing, just a routine inquiry about yesterday's events."

Karuizawa clearly didn't believe him, but she didn't press further. She took Tang Yu's hand: "Come on, everyone is waiting for us. Hirata said he wants to celebrate the victory of the debate competition."

The Class D celebration was held in an empty classroom with simple snacks and drinks, but the atmosphere was lively. Seeing Tang Yu and Karuizawa appear together, the students cheered.

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

"Today's debate was so brilliant! Several girls surrounded Karuizawa, "Especially the part where you talked about your own experience, I even cried!"

Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing in the corner, looking at all this thoughtfully. He walked over: "Thank you for today."

Horikita shook her head gently: "I just did the right thing." She lowered her voice, "That Tsukishiro... he isn't normal."

"You felt it too?"

"It's not just a feeling." Horikita's gaze became sharp, "When he tapped the table, my thinking became... blurred. If I hadn't suddenly woken up, I might have agreed to all his proposals."

Tang Yu felt a chill in his heart. Horikita Manabu seemed to have been affected as well, only he didn't remember the details. Tsukishiro's ability was more dangerous than imagined.

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

He looked at the celebrating Class D with complex eyes. When he discovered that Tang Yu had noticed him, Ryuen made a gesture to follow, then disappeared into the hallway.

Tang Yu made an excuse to go to the restroom and followed him out. Ryuen was waiting for him in the stairwell, uncharacteristically not provoking him, but instead directly showing a strange device on his arm—a micro-metal chip embedded in his skin, with surgical healing marks around it.

"A controller Tsukishiro installed on me." Ryuen's voice was hoarse, "It can amplify my aggression, and it can also make me suffer excruciating pain."

Tang Yu looked at him vigilantly: "Why tell me these things?"

"Because I've figured it out." Ryuen grinned, revealing beast-like canines, "Rather than being Tsukishiro's lab rat, it's better to cooperate with you to take him down."

"Cooperate?" Tang Yu said in disbelief, "The thirty-person siege at the Gymnasium..."

"That was manipulated by Tsukishiro." A trace of fear flashed in Ryuen's eyes, "He can put things in your brain... make you see hallucinations, change memories."

Tang Yu remembered the nightmare Karuizawa described and suddenly realized. Tsukishiro had been laying the groundwork for today for a long time.

"I'll consider it." Tang Yu finally said.

Ryuen sneered: "Don't consider it for too long. Tsukishiro is currently being investigated by the school, which is exactly when he is most dangerous." He turned to leave, then stopped, "By the way, be careful with Karuizawa. Tsukishiro especially wants her, saying her emotional pattern is 'very precious'."

This sentence made Tang Yu's blood run cold instantly. He returned to the celebration and immediately looked for Karuizawa, finding her chatting with Hirata and the others, safe for the moment.

But Ryuen's warning lingered in his ears—Tsukishiro would not give up, and Karuizawa was the most vulnerable link.

After the celebration ended, Tang Yu insisted on walking Karuizawa back to the dormitory. The night was deep, and the cherry blossoms fell like snow under the moonlight. Karuizawa suddenly stopped.

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

Tang Yu hesitated for a moment and decided to partially confess: "Tsukishiro Shuhei is very dangerous. He... has a special interest in you."

Karuizawa's face turned pale: "Because of my transformation?"

"Yes. But don't worry, I will protect you." Tang Yu held her hand, "Just be extra careful recently, don't act alone, and contact me immediately if you encounter anything unusual."

Karuizawa nodded, suddenly stood on tiptoe, and gave Tang Yu a light kiss on the cheek: "Thank you... for everything you've done for me."

This sudden kiss left Tang Yu stunned. Karuizawa's face turned bright red instantly, and she turned to run away, but was gently pulled back by Tang Yu. The two looked at each other under the cherry blossom tree, the moonlight plating her blonde hair with a silver edge, the emotion in her eyes pure and fiery.

"I..." Tang Yu had just started to speak when the system suddenly issued a sharp alarm:

[Remote surveillance detected]

[Direction: Rooftop to the right]

[Identity: Tsukishiro Shuhei]

Tang Yu instinctively shielded Karuizawa behind him and looked toward the rooftop on the right. Under the moonlight, a blurred figure was aiming some kind of device in their direction.

When Tang Yu locked eyes with him, the man—undoubtedly Tsukishiro—made a throat-slitting gesture before vanishing into the night.

"What's wrong?" Karuizawa asked, confused.

"It's nothing." Tang Yu forced himself to relax. "Let's go, I'll walk you to your dormitory entrance."

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

"See you tomorrow." Tang Yu smiled, but alarm bells were ringing in his mind. Tsukishiro had already locked onto Karuizawa as a target, and his system was not yet sufficient to ensure the safety of them both.

He needed more allies, more power, and... more intelligence regarding 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: Dismantle the White Room's conspiracy]

[Current Progress: 35%]

[Next Objective: Contact Ayanokoji and obtain more intelligence]

[Danger Level: Extremely High]

Outside the window, a blood moon slowly rose, signaling an ominous omen. Tang Yu knew that the real battle had only just begun.