Ten minutes later, the two thugs were firmly tied to chairs, their mouths stuffed with cloth. Tang Yu placed a disposable phone (redeemed from the system for 100 points) in front of them. A prepared message was displayed on the screen:
[Tell Ryuen the game has changed. If he dares to release any private photos of students, this recording and your statements will immediately be sent to the School Board and the Police Station.
Before noon tomorrow, I want to see the originals and backups of all the photos, placed in a locker at the east exit of Shinjuku Station. Leave the key in the usual place.]
"The usual place?" A rare flicker of curiosity appeared in Ayanokoji.
"The locker Karuizawa used in middle school," Tang Yu explained. "Ryuen will understand."
By the time they left the apartment building, it was already late at night. The streets were deserted, with only the streetlights casting long shadows. Tang Yu suddenly sensed something unusual-someone in a black car not far away was watching them.
"You go first," Tang Yu whispered. "We've got a tail."
Ayanokoji gave an almost imperceptible nod and turned to walk in the opposite direction. Tang Yu pretended not to notice the watcher and headed naturally toward the subway station. The black car followed at a slow pace, keeping a moderate distance.
The system suddenly issued a warning:
[High-threat surveillance detected]
[Identity confirmed: Tsukishiro Shuhei]
[Special Evaluator of the School Board]
[Hostility: 70%]
Tang Yu remained calm, but his heart involuntarily began to beat faster. The fact that an evaluator from the School Board had come in person meant their "interest" in him had escalated. He deliberately took a detour, and only returned to the secret apartment after making sure no one was following him.
Karuizawa Kei was still awake, curled up on the sofa watching TV. The moment she saw Tang Yu come in, she jumped up. "How did it go?"
"It's taken care of." Tang Yu briefly explained what had happened and played part of the recording. "Once we get the original photos tomorrow, you'll be completely free."
Karuizawa's eyes widened. She suddenly rushed forward and hugged Tang Yu tightly. "Thank you... Really... thank you..." Her voice choked, and her body trembled slightly.
Tang Yu gently patted her back and activated "Emotional Link" to sense her emotions: the joy of relief, deep gratitude, and another, warmer and more complicated feeling...
[Deep emotional fluctuation from Karuizawa Kei +500]
[Affection increased to 90/100]
[Emotion Points exceeded 100,000!]
[Unlocked "Emotion Weaving Network" ability]
[Can simultaneously sense and influence the emotional states of multiple people]
The new ability made Tang Yu's eyes light up. The earlier "Group Emotional Link" had only let him roughly influence the emotions of multiple people, but "Emotion Weaving Network" allowed him to tailor different emotional influences to different targets and build a complex network of interpersonal interactions.
Karuizawa finally let go and wiped her tears. "I... I never told you exactly what was in those photos..."
"You don't have to force yourself."
"No, you should know." Karuizawa took a deep breath and sat down on the sofa. "In middle school... I was bullied by a few delinquent upperclassmen.
"They locked me in a bathroom and forced me to take off my clothes so they could take pictures... They threatened to post the photos online if I told a teacher."
Tang Yu listened quietly and activated "Environmental Emotion Infiltration," filling the room with a sense of safety. Karuizawa's account came out in fits and starts, and at times she could barely speak through her sobs, but she persevered and told him the whole story-how she had transferred schools.
How she had pretended to be a domineering "queen" at her new school, how she had thought the nightmare was over, until Ryuen found those photos...
"It's all over now," Tang Yu said softly. "Those photos will be gone tomorrow. And..." He activated his newly acquired "Emotion Weaving Network," weaving a special emotional state for Karuizawa-a combination of "self-acceptance" and "inner strength." "You're stronger than you think."
Karuizawa stared at him, the tears in her eyes shimmering in the light. "Tang Yu... What are you, exactly? Why... why are you helping me like this?"
"A friend," Tang Yu said with a smile. "That's enough, isn't it?"
Karuizawa seemed about to say something, but in the end she only nodded, a genuine smile appearing on her lips.
It was late at night. Tang Yu stood in front of the apartment's floor-to-ceiling window, reviewing the day's actions. On the surface, he had won decisively-he had subdued Ryuen's underlings and obtained crucial evidence.
He was about to resolve Karuizawa's crisis. But the bigger challenges were only just beginning: Ayanokoji's uncharacteristic willingness to help, the Student Council's sudden intervention, and especially the appearance of the School Board evaluator...
The System Interface unfolded, displaying the latest relationship network:
[Karuizawa Kei: 90/100 (deep dependence)]
[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: 60/100 (cautious cooperation)]
[Horikita Suzune: 85/100 (strategic partner)]
[Tsukishiro Shuhei: Hostility 70%]
[Ryuen Kakeru: Hostility 80%]
Tomorrow would be the first day of classes in the new term, and the beginning of his head-on battle with Ryuen. With the evidence he had obtained today, he could easily bring Ryuen down.
But his instincts told him things weren't that simple-there might be an even greater force behind Ryuen, and the School Board's attention was an unknown as well.
[Mission updated: Respond to the School Board evaluation]
[Reward: Unlock special permissions based on performance]
Tang Yu closed the system and looked out at the night view of Tokyo. Somewhere in this sleepless city, Ryuen might be raging, Tsukishiro Shuhei might be writing an assessment report, and Horikita Manabu might be planning the Student Council transition... while Tang Yu, with his Emotion System, stood at the center of this complicated network.
A sliver of light still showed beneath the door to Karuizawa's bedroom. Tang Yu knocked softly. "Still awake?"
"Come in..." Karuizawa's voice sounded hesitant.
Tang Yu pushed open the door and saw Karuizawa sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a photo album. She patted the spot beside her. "Could you... stay with me for a while?"
Tang Yu sat on the edge of the bed, keeping a reasonable distance. Karuizawa opened the album and pointed to one of the photos-a picture of her in middle school, wearing a shy smile, completely different from how she was now.
"I want to start over," she said softly. "Stop pretending and be myself... Do you think that's possible?"
Tang Yu activated "Emotion Weaving Network," but this time he didn't influence Karuizawa's emotions. Instead, he formed a pure connection with her-one without any ulterior motive, just understanding and companionship.
"Of course it is," he said sincerely. "And... I'll help you."
Karuizawa leaned against his shoulder. The two of them sat quietly like that, while the lights of Tokyo outside the window twinkled like a river of stars. The new term had begun, and tonight, at least for this moment, was a rare calm before the storm.