The Student Council Office door closed silently behind Tang Yu, and the air-conditioning inside seemed a few degrees colder than the hallway. Horikita Manabu sat upright behind the broad desk, his gaze sharp as a blade behind his glasses.
Tsukishiro Shuhei lounged by the window, holding a teacup in his hands, a faint smile hanging on his lips.
"Please sit." Horikita Manabu gestured for Tang Yu to take the chair opposite him.
Tang Yu maintained his outward calm while activating the Emotion Weaving Network. Horikita Manabu's Emotion Cloud displayed the deep blue of composure and the gold of calculation.
Tsukishiro Shuhei's emotions, meanwhile, were like a mass of fog. The system could barely analyze them accurately-something that had never happened before.
"Tea or coffee?" Tsukishiro suddenly asked, his voice so gentle it was almost affected.
"No, thank you." Tang Yu politely declined, focusing his attention on Horikita Manabu. "What did you want to see me about, President?"
Horikita Manabu folded his hands on the desk. "About last night. Secretary Tachibana reported... an unusual situation to me."
Tang Yu was prepared. "Ryuen Kakeru hired outsiders to threaten students at this school. The evidence is conclusive." He took out backup copies of the audio files and communication records. They had already been edited to conceal Karuizawa's personal information.
Horikita Manabu took the files and quickly scanned their contents. At some point, Tsukishiro had moved to stand behind Tang Yu. The invisible pressure made the hairs on the back of Tang Yu's neck stand on end.
"Interesting." Tsukishiro's voice came from above him. "A transfer student who hasn't even been here for two weeks has solved the Ryuen Kakeru problem that's troubled the school for years."
Tang Yu didn't turn around. "I just happened to find a lead."
"By chance?" Tsukishiro chuckled and circled around to crouch in front of Tang Yu, meeting his gaze. "According to my investigation, your record before transferring here... was quite ordinary.
"How could an ordinary student be so skilled at setting traps and interrogating delinquents?"
Tang Yu's pupils contracted slightly. Tsukishiro Shuhei had investigated him! The system suddenly displayed a warning:
[Detection of mental probing fluctuation] [Source: Tsukishiro Shuhei] [Recommendation: Activate defensive mechanism]
Tang Yu immediately exchanged 3,000 points for the Emotion Shield ability, raising an invisible barrier around his consciousness. Tsukishiro's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as though he had sensed something unusual.
"Teacher Tsukishiro." Horikita Manabu interrupted. "This is an internal Student Council matter."
Tsukishiro shrugged and stood up. "Of course. I was just curious." He walked back toward the window, but Tang Yu could feel that his attention was still fixed on him.
Horikita Manabu put down the files. "The evidence is sufficient. The Student Council will deal with Ryuen. But I want to know-" He looked Tang Yu straight in the eye. "What are your intentions?"
"My intentions?"
"Don't play dumb." Horikita Manabu's tone remained calm, but a flash of red passed through his Emotion Cloud. "Someone capable of subduing delinquents and gathering crucial evidence-why hide in Class D? With your abilities, you could have transferred directly into Class A."
Tang Yu didn't answer right away. The question touched the heart of his plan. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, he could sense that Horikita Manabu wasn't acting out of hostility.
He was simply thinking logically-in the student council president's eyes, everything should have a rational explanation.
"What do you think is the purpose of this school?" Tang Yu countered.
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow slightly. "To cultivate elites and select true leaders."
"Then what qualities should a leader possess?"
"Wisdom, decisiveness, and leadership." Horikita Manabu answered without hesitation.
Tang Yu shook his head. "You're missing one thing-empathy. A true leader must understand and make good use of the value of every member of the team.
"He gestured toward the campus outside the window. "This school divides students into four levels, A, B, C, and D, yet overlooks the complexity of human nature. Class D students aren't without talent. They've simply been branded as defective."
Horikita Manabu's expression wavered for the first time. "Idealistic empty talk."
"Whether it's idealism or foresight will soon be put to the test." Tang Yu spoke confidently. "At the Debate Tournament two weeks from now, Class D will prove its worth."
Tsukishiro suddenly interjected. "An interesting argument. However..." He waved his phone. "The School Board has some... doubts about your 'heroic actions' last night. Why would an ordinary high school student be so adept at handling dangerous situations?"
Tang Yu's Emotion Shield trembled slightly. Tsukishiro's words seemed to carry some kind of mental suggestion.
He steadied himself. "My father is a criminal investigator. He taught me a few self-defense techniques when I was young."
"Is that so?" Tsukishiro narrowed his eyes. "What a coincidence. I know plenty of people at the Metropolitan Police Department. What's your father's name? Which department does he work in?"
A trap! Tang Yu's file had been fabricated by the system. There was no such thing as a "criminal investigator father." He kept his expression unchanged. "I'm from Huaxia. My father is a criminal investigator in Huaxia."
The atmosphere grew tense at once. Horikita Manabu looked at the two of them, then suddenly said, "Teacher Tsukishiro, the School Board's evaluation should follow the formal procedure."
Tsukishiro smiled and stepped back. "Of course. Tang, we'll meet again soon." He headed for the door, then stopped. "By the way, I hear you're organizing debate practice for Class D. I'm looking forward to seeing the results."
After the door closed, the pressure in the room seemed to ease. Horikita Manabu took off his glasses and wiped them. "Tsukishiro Shuhei is the School Board's most dangerous evaluator. He specializes in dealing with 'problem students.' You've attracted his attention. That's unwise."
"I didn't seek him out. He came looking for me." Tang Yu frowned. "Why is the School Board so interested in me?"
Horikita Manabu put his glasses back on. "Everything at this school revolves around meritocracy. Anything that could disrupt the balance will draw attention. Especially someone like you... an anomaly."
"An anomaly?" Tang Yu's heartbeat skipped a beat. Had Horikita Manabu sensed the system's existence?
"Your abilities far exceed those of an ordinary Class D student." Horikita Manabu continued. "Tsukishiro is worried you'll undermine the school's educational philosophy."
Tang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "An educational philosophy shouldn't be afraid of a challenge."
"Perhaps." Horikita Manabu stood up, signaling that the meeting was over. "I'll handle the matter with Ryuen. As for you... be careful of Tsukishiro. He isn't as simple as he seems."
By the time Tang Yu left the Student Council Office, his back was soaked. Tsukishiro Shuhei's mental probing and the traps in his words both indicated that the School Board might know something about "abnormal students."
More troubling was that Tang Yu couldn't read Tsukishiro's emotions the way he could read an ordinary person's. Either he had undergone special training, or...
[Emotion Points: 95600/∞] [New Ability: Emotion Shield (Beginner)] [Can resist mental probing and suggestion] [Upgrade requires 50000 points]
The System Interface's update confirmed Tang Yu's guess-Tsukishiro Shuhei possessed some kind of mental ability! The waters at this school ran much deeper than he had imagined.
When Tang Yu returned to the Class D classroom, most of the students had already left. Only the core members of the Debate Team were still discussing things. Horikita Suzune was the first to notice Tang Yu. "What did the president say?"
Tang Yu briefly explained the situation, leaving out Tsukishiro's mental probing. "The Student Council will deal with Ryuen. Now we need to focus on the Debate Tournament."
Karuizawa Kei handed him a bottle of water. "You don't look too good."
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." Tang Yu took the water. His fingertips accidentally brushed Karuizawa's hand, and through the Emotion Weaving Network he sensed her heartbeat quicken and her cheeks grow warm for a moment. He quickly pulled his hand back, pretending not to notice.
Hirata Yosuke spread open his notebook. "I've put together a debate framework. Horikita will handle the opening statement and logical arguments, I'll handle rebuttals and team coordination, Karuizawa will handle the emotional appeal, and Tang will deliver the closing statement."
"That's a good division of labor." Tang Yu nodded. "But we need more students to participate. The Debate Tournament scores teamwork, so the four of us can't be the only ones performing."
"I've already organized a research group." Horikita Suzune said unexpectedly. "Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Yuki will be responsible for gathering information, and Kushida Kikyo will coordinate the girls' group..."
Tang Yu looked at her in surprise. Horikita Suzune, who had kept to herself last term, was now taking the initiative to organize a team? Through the Emotion Weaving Network,
he could sense the changes inside Horikita Suzune. The proud iceberg was melting, replaced by a new and unfamiliar sense of belonging to the team.
"Great." Tang Yu smiled. "Tomorrow after school, we'll hold our first mock debate. Please prepare your respective parts tonight."
Night fell, and Tang Yu was walking back to his apartment alone. The system suddenly sounded an alarm:
[Abnormal emotional fluctuation detected] [Direction: alley on the left] [Identity: Ryuen Kakeru]
Tang Yu pretended not to notice and continued walking, but discreetly activated the Emotion Shield. Sure enough, Ryuen stepped out of the shadows, wearing his trademark sneer.
"Transfer student, we need to talk." Ryuen's voice was hoarser than usual.
"The photos have been destroyed. The deal is over." Tang Yu spoke calmly.
Ryuen suddenly grabbed Tang Yu by the collar and dragged him into the alley. "Don't think you've won! Those useless idiots on the Student Council can't do a damn thing to me!"
Tang Yu didn't resist. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, he read Ryuen's state-beneath his anger was... fear? That didn't make sense. Ryuen wasn't someone who got scared easily.
"Who's threatening you?" Tang Yu suddenly asked.
Ryuen's hand froze. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your anger is too deliberate." Tang Yu looked Ryuen straight in the eye. "Someone's forcing you to go after me. Who is it? Tsukishiro Shuhei?"
Ryuen released his grip and took a step back. "You're more dangerous than I thought." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Listen, transfer student. This game has escalated. That bastard Tsukishiro... he's different."
"How is he different?"
Ryuen's expression turned strange. "He... can get inside your head. Make you see... things you shouldn't see." After saying this inexplicable thing, the tyrant of Class C quickly disappeared into the night.
Tang Yu stood where he was, processing Ryuen's warning. It seemed Tsukishiro really did possess mental abilities, and he had already used them on Ryuen. A new prompt appeared on the System Interface:
[Quest updated: Investigate Tsukishiro Shuhei's true identity] [Reward: Unlock "Mental Defense Network"] [Danger level: High]
When Tang Yu got back to his apartment, he found Karuizawa Kei waiting by the door, holding two lunch boxes.
"I thought you might not have eaten dinner..." she said awkwardly. "I also came to pick up some things I left here."
Tang Yu opened the door and let her in. Karuizawa set the lunch boxes out with practiced ease, as though this were the most natural thing in the world. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, Tang Yu sensed her emotions-warmth, concern, and a hint of... the feeling of home?
"Everyone in class was talking about you today." Karuizawa arranged the chopsticks as she spoke. "They said you're Class D's secret weapon."
Tang Yu smiled wryly. "I hope I won't disappoint everyone."
"You won't." Karuizawa spoke firmly. "With you around, Class D is different. Even someone like Horikita has started fitting in with the group..." She suddenly stopped, her face turning slightly red. "I mean... everyone trusts you."
Tang Yu took a bite of the lunch box. It tasted unexpectedly good. "Did you make this?"
Karuizawa nodded. "I was often home alone in middle school, so I learned to cook..." Her voice fell, clearly recalling unpleasant memories.
Tang Yu gently soothed her emotions through the Emotion Weaving Network. "It's delicious. Thank you."
The two of them quietly finished dinner. As Karuizawa cleared away the dishes, she suddenly asked, "Tang Yu, why do you help everyone so much? Not just me, but all of Class D..."
Tang Yu thought for a while. "Maybe... it's because I see potential."
"Potential?"