"Good eye." Tang Yu adjusted his breathing. "Continue."
In the second round, Tang Yu got serious and evened the score with an unexpected Throat Thrust. Horikita's eyes widened in surprise, then the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "Now that's more like it."
In the deciding round, the two traded blows, their Bamboo Swords clashing in a rapid flurry like falling raindrops. In the end, Tang Yu deliberately left a tiny opening, and Horikita seized the chance to score a hit to his abdomen.
"2:1. I win." Horikita put away her Bamboo Sword, breathing slightly hard.
Tang Yu pretended to look frustrated. "I won't let you get me next time."
"Anytime." Horikita turned to leave, then paused. "By the way... about the Student Council election..."
Tang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Your brother's stepping down?"
"Yes." Horikita rarely volunteered information. "Miyabi Nagumo is a leading candidate to succeed him, but he's... not to be trusted."
This was the first time Horikita Suzune had expressed her wariness toward someone so directly, and the first time she'd hinted at seeking an ally. Tang Yu nodded solemnly. "Understood. Thanks for the warning."
[Respect from Horikita Suzune +300] [Affection increased to 80/100] [Current Emotion Points: 63500/∞]
2:30 p.m., a café near the school. Tang Yu chose a booth in the far corner, with his back to the wall and a clear view of both the entrance and the emergency exit. Meeting Karuizawa Kei called for absolute caution, especially now that he knew Kushida was looking into her.
Karuizawa arrived on time, her blonde hair tied in a neat ponytail. She'd swapped her uniform jacket for a fashionable cardigan and seemed more relaxed than she did at school. But as soon as she sat down, she got straight to the point. "Kushida is investigating me."
"I know." Tang Yu handed her the menu. "I just had a 'friendly' chat with her."
A hint of fear flashed in Karuizawa's eyes. "How much does she know?"
"I'm not sure, but she's definitely got some clues." Tang Yu activated "Emotion Field," creating a sense of safety around them. "What about Ryuen?"
"Worse." Karuizawa bit down on her straw. "He tracked down some of my middle school classmates and threatened to expose those photos... unless I help him bring down Horikita Suzune."
Tang Yu's gaze turned cold in an instant. "What's the plan?"
"I don't know the details, but I heard he's going to make his move at the school assembly." Karuizawa's hands trembled slightly. "Tang Yu... what should I do?"
Tang Yu thought for a moment. "First, don't panic. Second, I need you to keep pretending to cooperate with Ryuen, but report his movements to me promptly."
He activated "Emotional Link," sending her his unwavering support. "I'll take care of this, including those photos."
Karuizawa's Emotion Cloud gradually shifted from dark gray, the color of fear, to the pale blue of hope. "Why... why are you helping me so much?"
"Because we're allies." Tang Yu smiled. "Besides, Class D needs a fighter like you."
Karuizawa suddenly reached out and grabbed Tang Yu's wrist. The unexpected contact left them both stunned for a moment. "Thank you," she said softly, then quickly withdrew her hand, her cheeks turning red.
[Dependence from Karuizawa Kei +400] [Affection increased to 80/100] [Current Emotion Points: 64500/∞]
5:40 p.m., along the school's Cherry Blossom Path. Tang Yu arrived early at their meeting spot, sorting through the bits of information he'd gathered that day-Ryuen was working with Miyabi Nagumo and planned to use Karuizawa's past to attack Horikita Suzune and split up Class D. It was still unclear what role Kushida Kikyo was playing, but she certainly didn't have good intentions.
"Classmate Tang Yu!" Honami Ichinose's voice rang out behind him, as clear as a wind chime. She hurried over, her light brown hair gleaming gold in the sunset. "Sorry, something with the Student Council held me up."
"It's fine. I just got here, too." Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception. Ichinose's Emotion Cloud was a warm orange, but at its core was a faint, hard-to-detect blue melancholy, unlike usual.
The two strolled along the Cherry Blossom Path. Ichinose talked about her plans for the new term and team-building in Class B, her tone as upbeat as ever. But Tang Yu noticed that several times she started to say something, then stopped.
"Is something bothering you?" Tang Yu asked directly.
Ichinose paused. "Is it that obvious?" She gave a wry smile. "Actually... the Student Council election is coming up, and someone anonymously revealed that I... did something shameful in middle school."
Tang Yu immediately thought of Karuizawa's situation. "Was it Ryuen?"
"How did you know?" Ichinose's eyes widened in surprise.
"Just a hunch." Tang Yu glossed over it. "What exactly was it?"
"They say I cheated on an exam." Ichinose's voice dropped. "Actually... it's true. In my first year of middle school, I passed the answers to my best friend, and we were both disciplined for it."
The confession took Tang Yu by surprise. Ichinose's honesty prompted him to activate "Emotional Link" without thinking. He sensed the deep remorse and tendency toward self-punishment within her-this sunny girl had been making up for her past mistake by giving too much of herself.
"Everyone has a past they'd rather keep hidden," Tang Yu said softly. "What matters is who you are now."
Ichinose stopped, tears glimmering in her eyes. "You really think so?"
"Of course." Tang Yu looked her in the eye. "The leader of Class B is Honami Ichinose, not that girl from her first year of middle school."
Ichinose suddenly stepped forward and gave Tang Yu a tight hug, then quickly backed away, her cheeks flushed. "Sorry, I got carried away... I just... thank you."
[Moved by Honami Ichinose +500] [Affection increased to 80/100] [Emotion Points exceeded 70000!] [Unlocked "Emotion Resonance" ability] [Can establish deep Emotional Links with multiple people at once]
The sun set, and their shadows stretched long across the Cherry Blossom Path. After escorting Ichinose back to her dorm, Tang Yu headed to the boys' dorm alone.
He'd exceeded his goals for the day: not only had he gathered a great deal of Emotion Points and unlocked a new ability, he'd also strengthened his relationships with five key girls.
However, just as he was about to enter the dormitory, Emotion Perception caught a familiar presence-cold and calculating.
Tang Yu whipped around and saw Student Council Vice President Kiriyama Ikiteru standing in the distant shadows of a tree, recording something with some kind of device.
Their eyes met in the twilight. Kiriyama's lips curled into a cold smile, then he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
[Special Alert: High-threat surveillance detected] [Kiriyama Ikiteru hostility: 70%] [Recommendation: Strengthen defensive measures]
The system's alert flickered in the night as Tang Yu stood at the dorm entrance, watching the direction in which Kiriyama had disappeared. The new term was about to begin, and the undercurrents were already surging.
It seemed a lot of people were obsessed with this position, but it wasn't yours to take.