The group was preparing to head down the mountain when Tang Yu suddenly sensed a powerful surge of emotion coming from below. He signaled for everyone to hide, then quietly crept to the edge of the cliff and looked down.
Katsuragi's Class A team had finally shaken off the false target's interference and was heading for the summit. Meanwhile, Ryuen hadn't really left at all. He was lying in wait behind a boulder halfway up the mountain, clearly preparing to ambush Class A.
"The fun's just beginning," Tang Yu whispered, signaling for the group to descend by another route.
On the way back to camp, they heard distant shouting and the sounds of fighting from halfway up the mountain. Tang Yu's lips curved into a faint smile. Class A and Class C were wearing each other down, exactly the outcome he wanted.
[Mission Completion Reward: Intelligence +0.5 (Current: 10.5/12)]
At three in the afternoon, the group returned safely to the Class D camp. Tang Yu handed the Task Card to Ayanokoji for analysis and reported what had happened at the summit.
"Well done," Hirata praised sincerely. "We not only secured strategic supplies, but also got Class A and Class C to wear each other down."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Ayanokoji reminded them calmly. "Ryuen won't let this go."
Horikita suddenly challenged him. "I heard you made some kind of deal with Ichinose from Class B?"
Tang Yu nodded. "A temporary alliance to share information. What about it?"
"Class B is a competitor too," Horikita said with a frown. "Getting too close to them could backfire."
"It's just a temporary tactical necessity," Tang Yu explained. "With Class C threatening us, we need allies."
"Horikita's right," Ayanokoji said, unexpectedly backing her up. "Relying too much on outside alliances will weaken our class's internal unity."
Tang Yu keenly noticed a hint of calculation in Ayanokoji's Emotion Cloud. He wasn't actually opposed to working with Class B; he was using this opportunity to undermine the trust Tang Yu and Horikita had only just begun to build.
[Scheme from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +150]
"I'll reserve judgment," Tang Yu said without directly arguing back. "We can reassess the situation tomorrow."
The meeting ended on a sour note. Tang Yu noticed that factions were already forming within Class D: those who supported him, those who supported Horikita, and those who were waiting to see what happened. This division was bad for the class as a whole, but very beneficial to him personally, as it gave him plenty of opportunities to collect Emotion Points.
By evening, dark clouds had grown thicker in the sky, and the sea breeze had turned wild. Tang Yu stood on a rock by the shore, watching the waves churn in the distance, and felt a sense of foreboding.
"A storm's coming."
Ichinose's voice came from behind him. Tang Yu turned to see the leader of Class B standing alone on the beach, her short, flaxen hair tousled by the sea wind.
"How are your preparations at camp?" Tang Yu asked as he jumped down from the rocks.
Ichinose shook her head. "They're not sturdy enough. I'm worried..." Her words were swept away by a sudden gust.
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and saw that Ichinose's Emotion Cloud was full of anxiety and worry. He hesitated, then activated his Deep Emotion Resonance ability, hoping to get a more accurate sense of Class B's situation.
In an instant, he felt the pressure deep within Ichinose: the sense of responsibility she bore as a leader, her fear of the approaching storm, and... something deeper, a shadow tied to a past failure.
"Are you all right?" Ichinose's concerned voice brought Tang Yu back to reality.
"Sorry, I got distracted," Tang Yu said, deactivating his ability. "If things get dangerous, Class B can take shelter at our camp."
Ichinose's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
"Of course," Tang Yu said with a nod. "But in exchange..."
"Sharing information. I understand," Ichinose said with a smile. "Thank you, Tang Yu."
After agreeing on how to contact each other in an emergency, they went their separate ways. Tang Yu had barely returned to the Class D camp when raindrops the size of beans began to pelt the ground. Soon, torrential rain poured down, and the howling wind rushed through the trees, making the tents flap and rattle.
"Everyone, secure the tents!" Hirata shouted over the storm. "Move the important supplies into the Central Tent!"
The Class D students braved the downpour to reinforce the camp. Tang Yu and Ayanokoji were securing the storage tent, struggling to work against the wind.
"Will Class B come?" Ayanokoji suddenly asked, his voice nearly drowned out by the storm.
Tang Yu pulled the rope taut. "That depends on how strong the storm gets."
"You trust them too much," Ayanokoji remarked, his tone calm but edged.
Tang Yu didn't respond. He knew Ayanokoji was testing his limits, but now wasn't the time to argue.
Suddenly, a piercing ripping sound rang out—the wind had torn a huge hole in the girls' tent, and several girls screamed as they grabbed at the flapping canvas.
"I'll help!" Tang Yu shouted, rushing toward the girls' area. Ayanokoji followed close behind.
With everyone working together, they finally secured the tent again. Soaked through, Tang Yu counted heads and suddenly realized someone was missing. "Where's Horikita?"
"She... said she was going to check the Perimeter Alarm Device..." one girl stammered. "She left almost half an hour ago..."
Tang Yu and Ayanokoji exchanged a glance, both realizing how serious the situation was. In such a violent storm, being alone outside was extremely dangerous.
"I'm going to find her." Tang Yu grabbed a raincoat and flashlight.
"It's too dangerous," Ayanokoji objected. "Wait until the storm lets up a little..."
"We can't wait." Tang Yu was already rushing toward the edge of camp. "She's an important member of Class D!"
[Crisis Mission: Rescue Horikita Suzune]
[Success Reward: Major increase in Horikita Suzune's trust]
[Failure Risk: Casualties, collapse in class morale]
The rain poured down in sheets, and the wind howled. Tang Yu plunged into the dark forest, the flashlight's beam weak and feeble against the rain. He activated all his perception abilities and searched for Horikita's trail.
"Horikita! Horikita Suzune!" His shouts were swallowed by the storm.
Just then, Emotion Perception picked up a faint emotional fluctuation—fear, determination, and... a trace of despair? Tang Yu changed direction and struggled toward its source.
He found Horikita in a low-lying area. Her foot was pinned beneath a fallen tree, and her body was submerged in the rapidly rising rainwater. She was already half-conscious.
"Horikita! Hang on!" Tang Yu strained to lift the tree, then hoisted Horikita onto his back.
The way back to camp was even harder than the way there. Floodwaters began to rush down the hillside, and every step forced Tang Yu to fight against the current and the debris in the water. Horikita breathed faintly on his back as icy rain beat down on them both.
"Why... did you come to save me...?" Horikita asked weakly beside his ear.
"Because we're teammates," Tang Yu replied through gritted teeth, struggling forward against the gale.
[Emotion Points have reached the critical threshold]
[Adrenaline Burst: Temporary Strength +2, Temporary Agility +2]
A warm current surged through his body, and Tang Yu felt his strength multiply. He held Horikita tight and carved a path through the raging storm, struggling toward the lights of the camp...
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