The morning sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains. Tang Yu opened his eyes, and the System Interface immediately unfolded in his field of vision:
[Current Emotion Points: 38900/40000] [Today's Goal: Break through 40000 to unlock a new ability] [Special Reminder: High-density emotional fluctuations detected in the environment]
Today was the first day of the Summer Special Training Class. Tang Yu got out of bed and took the carefully prepared outfit from his suitcase-a uniform that looked ordinary, but had actually been upgraded with "Advanced Fabric Improvement" in exchange for Emotion Points (cost: 200 points).
It fit more crisply and looked sharper. The details made all the difference. In front of this group of elites, every advantage mattered.
The villa was nestled in the woods on the outskirts of Tokyo. The school used it specifically to host special events.
When Tang Yu arrived on an early train, more than twenty students had already gathered in the courtyard. He quickly scanned the crowd and immediately picked out a few key figures:
Third-year Miyabi Nagumo, the Student Council Vice President and rumored successor to Horikita Manabu, was surrounded by a group of admirers; second-year Tachibana Akane, the Student Council secretary, stood quietly in a corner reading;
Among the first-years, besides Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, there were Katsuragi Kohei from Class A, Honami Ichinose from Class B, and... Koenji Rokusuke from Class C?
"Koenji came too?" Tang Yu muttered under his breath. The eccentric blond boy was doing yoga as if no one else were there, completely ignoring the strange looks around him.
"Specially invited by the School Administration." A familiar voice came from behind him. Horikita Suzune stood there, her black hair cascading down her back, her expression a little softer than usual.
She wore the standard uniform, but the badge at her collar was pinned especially neatly. "I heard he showed 'extraordinary potential' in certain tests."
Tang Yu nodded in greeting. "Good morning, Horikita. Has your leg healed?"
"Mm." Horikita lightly stamped her right foot. "It doesn't interfere with my activities anymore."
The atmosphere between them was completely different from before the final exams. There was less tension and a little more subtle understanding.
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and found that Horikita's Emotion Cloud was a warm beige, calm with a hint of anticipation.
"Has your brother arrived yet?" Tang Yu asked tentatively.
Horikita's expression instantly tightened. "He's in the meeting room. He... takes this training seriously."
As soon as she finished speaking, the villa's main gate opened, and a tall figure walked out. No introduction was needed. Tang Yu immediately recognized him-Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President, a legendary figure on campus.
He was even more imposing than Tang Yu had imagined. Nearly six foot three, with sharply defined features, and eyes as keen as a hawk's behind black-rimmed glasses. Even in an ordinary uniform, he had the intimidating presence of someone clad in armor.
"Form up." Horikita Manabu's voice wasn't loud, yet the entire courtyard fell silent at once.
The students quickly lined up in three rows. Tang Yu deliberately stood in the middle, where he could observe everyone without drawing too much attention. But after Horikita Manabu swept his gaze across the group, it paused on him for half a second-a long enough time to convey one clear message: you've been noticed.
"This Special Training Class will last two weeks." Horikita Manabu got straight to the point. "The goal is to uncover your potential through high-intensity training.
"The rules are simple: follow discipline, complete the assignments, and your continued participation will be decided by the comprehensive assessment on the final day."
"Continued participation?" someone asked quietly.
"The bottom 10% will be eliminated and lose eligibility for all awards next semester." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses. "Now, the first class begins. An analysis of classical literature, which I'll teach. The classroom is on the second floor. Five minutes."
The students immediately headed inside the villa. Just as Tang Yu was about to follow, he suddenly felt his jacket hem being tugged. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had appeared beside him at some point, his gray eyes unfathomable.
"Watch out for Nagumo," he whispered, then disappeared into the crowd.
Tang Yu frowned. Miyabi Nagumo? The Student Council Vice President who seemed so sunny? He activated Emotion Perception and scanned the area. Sure enough, he picked up an unusual fluctuation coming from Nagumo's direction-outwardly cheerful and friendly, but inwardly a deep gray of calculation.
[Attention from Miyabi Nagumo +100] [Current Emotion Points: 39000/40000]
The classroom was traditionally Japanese in style, with low tables and cushions arranged on the tatami mats. Tang Yu chose a seat by the window, where he could observe everyone and benefit from the natural light.
Horikita Suzune sat diagonally in front of him, her back perfectly straight; Ayanokoji chose the spot in the farthest corner, as if he wanted to blend into the wall.
Horikita Manabu stood at the lectern. He didn't use any slides or other teaching materials, just picked up a bound copy of The Tale of the Heike.
"Today we'll analyze the 'Battle of Uji' section in volume four of The Tale of the Heike." His voice was calm and carried clearly. "First, who can summarize what happens in this section?"
A few hands went up, including Horikita Suzune's. Tang Yu noticed that Horikita Manabu deliberately ignored his younger sister and chose a third-year student to answer.
After the student finished giving the standard answer, Horikita Manabu suddenly asked, "Why did Taira no Kiyomori choose to withdraw after his victory instead of pressing the attack? Historical accounts consider it a major mistake. What do you think?"
The classroom fell silent. The question seemed simple, but it concealed a trap: reconsidering a settled historical judgment. Tang Yu saw Horikita Suzune's fingers tremble slightly. She clearly knew the answer but didn't dare raise her hand, afraid her brother would think she was showing off.
"Tang Yu." Horikita Manabu called on him directly. "What's your opinion?"
Every gaze in the room immediately focused on him. Tang Yu stayed calm and activated Emotional Link to try to discern Horikita Manabu's intentions, but an invisible barrier bounced it back. The man's emotional control was frighteningly strong.
"It wasn't a mistake, but a calculated decision." Tang Yu slowly stood up. "Taira no Kiyomori understood that 'total victory is not the highest form of excellence.' Although the Taira Clan won, they suffered considerable losses. Pressing the attack could have trapped them in a drawn-out war. Withdrawing would preserve their strength while allowing them to cultivate an image of benevolence, paving the way for their later political maneuvering."
The classroom fell completely silent. His answer not only challenged the accepted historical judgment but also displayed strategic thinking beyond that of a high school student. Light from the window reflected off Horikita Manabu's glasses, making his eyes impossible to read.
"An interesting perspective," he finally said. "But it overlooks the Genji side. If Minamoto no Yoshitsune had been-"
"Minamoto no Yoshitsune was rebuilding his strength in Hokuriku," Tang Yu interrupted without showing deference. "Taira no Kiyomori's intelligence network couldn't possibly have been unaware of that. That was precisely why he needed to conserve his strength rather than wear down his elite troops in a small local victory."
The whole room erupted. Tang Yu might have been the first first-year student to interrupt Horikita Manabu and stand by his opinion.
[Shock from everyone in the room +500] [Complex emotions from Horikita Suzune +200] [Current Emotion Points: 39700/40000]