The Trap (Part 2)

I'm in a hurry, Ayanokoji said. Come at me together.

Ryuen's expression darkened. "You're asking for it. Get him!"

Five boys charged at Ayanokoji at once. What happened next made everyone's eyes widen-Ayanokoji moved so fast he seemed to leave afterimages.

A single knife-hand strike, an elbow blow, and a sweep sent all five opponents to the ground almost simultaneously, before they could even cry out.

The Gymnasium fell silent. Tang Yu struggled to push himself up as the system analyzed Ayanokoji's movements at full power:

[Fighting style: A combination of various military combat techniques]

[Speed: 32% beyond the human limit]

[Strength: 28% beyond the human limit]

[Assessment: Professional-level combatant]

Ryuen's expression turned ugly. "Damn it, all of you, get him! Take him down!"

The remaining twenty-odd students rushed at him all at once. Ayanokoji weaved through the crowd like a phantom, each blow landing precisely on a vital spot, yet controlled so that none were fatal.

His opponents' fists and feet couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes, while every time he struck, someone went down.

Tang Yu took the opportunity to crawl over to Karuizawa and tear through the rope around her wrists with his teeth. Karuizawa ripped the tape off her mouth and hugged Tang Yu tightly. "I'm sorry... This is all because of me..."

"It's not your fault." Tang Yu patted her back gently while watching the fight.

Ayanokoji's fighting was like art-there wasn't a single wasted movement, and his efficiency was terrifying. In just two minutes, only five or six of the thirty attackers were still standing.

The rest were all groaning on the floor. Ishizaki Daichi tried to attack from behind, but Ayanokoji sent him flying five meters with a backward kick. He hit the wall and passed out.

Ryuen finally looked afraid. He kept backing away. "You... What the hell are you?"

Ayanokoji didn't answer. He kept walking forward. The few remaining students abandoned Ryuen and scattered in every direction. In the second-floor stands, the watching students were silent; some had even forgotten to breathe.

"That's enough." A voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned around and saw Horikita Manabu standing in the second-floor stands, accompanied by members of the Student Council. No one knew when he had arrived.

"This farce ends here." Horikita Manabu's voice was cold. "All students involved in the assault are to report to the Student Council tomorrow morning to face disciplinary action. Ryuen Kakeru, you're suspected of kidnapping and coercion. The School Administration will consider whether to report this to the police."

Ryuen's face turned ashen, but he soon went back to his usual carefree smile. "Whatever. But the biggest discovery today..." He looked at Ayanokoji. "...was finding the real monster in this school."

Horikita Manabu followed his gaze and looked at Ayanokoji, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his glasses. Ayanokoji, meanwhile, picked up his uniform and put it on without expression, as if nothing that had just happened had anything to do with him.

The wail of an ambulance siren drew closer. With Karuizawa supporting him, Tang Yu got to his feet and walked over to Ayanokoji. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Ayanokoji shook his head. "We're even." He paused. "Tsukishiro's watching."

Tang Yu followed his gaze and saw Tsukishiro Shuhei quietly watching everything from the shadows in the corner of the Gymnasium, an unusual glint in his eyes.

Their gazes met. Tsukishiro smiled faintly, gestured that they would meet again soon, then quietly left.

Medical staff flooded into the Gymnasium and began treating the injured. Karuizawa insisted on accompanying Tang Yu to the hospital for an examination, clutching his arm and refusing to let go.

The students from Class D gathered around, expressing their concern all at once. Hirata Yosuke was filled with self-reproach, while Horikita Suzune looked at Ayanokoji with a complicated expression, as if she were seeing her classmate for the first time.

In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Tang Yu leaned against the stretcher as the System Interface kept refreshing:

[Deep emotional fluctuation from Karuizawa Kei +1200]

[Amazement from Class D classmates +800]

[Fear from watching students +1500]

[Emotion Points have exceeded the critical threshold]

[Ability unlocked: "Combat Emotion Resonance"]

[Can absorb the fear of nearby opponents and convert it into personal combat power]

[Current Emotion Points: 125600/∞]

Karuizawa held Tang Yu's hand, tears falling nonstop. "I'm sorry... If I hadn't let my guard down and let them catch me..."

Tang Yu squeezed her hand. "What matters is that you're okay." He hesitated. "The photos Ryuen mentioned..."

"They're fake." Karuizawa shook her head. "He showed me a few blurry doctored pictures and threatened to release the real ones if I didn't cooperate. But I knew those weren't real."

Tang Yu let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Ryuen really had nothing to hold over Karuizawa; this kidnapping had been purely to lure him into a trap.

The hospital examination showed that Tang Yu had mostly superficial injuries. The worst were two cracked ribs, which required a week of rest. After the doctor treated his wounds, Karuizawa insisted on taking Tang Yu back to his apartment.

Night had fallen. The two walked along a quiet street. Karuizawa suddenly stopped. "Tang Yu, I..."

Tang Yu turned to look at her. Under the moonlight, Karuizawa's eyes shone, her lips trembling slightly. The next second, she rose onto her tiptoes and gently kissed Tang Yu on the cheek.

"Thank you... for everything you did for me." Her voice was so soft he could barely hear it.

Tang Yu froze. Through the Emotion Weaving Network, he could clearly feel Karuizawa's complex yet pure emotions at that moment-gratitude, dependence, admiration, and something deeper and more fervent.

"I..." Tang Yu had just started to speak when the system suddenly sounded an alarm:

[Remote surveillance detected]

[Direction: Rooftop on the right]

[Identity: Tsukishiro Shuhei]

Tang Yu instinctively shielded Karuizawa behind him and looked toward the rooftop on the right. Under the moonlight, a blurry figure was watching them, his glasses reflecting a cold gleam.

When Tang Yu met his gaze, the man raised a hand and made a strange gesture, then disappeared into the night.

"What's wrong?" Karuizawa asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Tang Yu looked away. "Let's go."

After they returned to the apartment, Tang Yu made sure Karuizawa's emotions were stable before letting her go back to the girls' dormitory. He closed the door, immediately opened his computer, and began recording everything he had discovered that day:

1. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka possessed combat abilities far beyond ordinary people and had seemingly received professional training;

2. Tsukishiro Shuhei had watched the whole time without intervening, seemingly observing something;

3. Ryuen's behavior had changed, becoming more extreme and dangerous;

4. The system's new ability, "Combat Emotion Resonance," might be key to opposing Tsukishiro.

Halfway through writing, the doorbell rang. Tang Yu warily looked through the peephole-it was Ayanokoji.

"Sorry to bother you." After entering, Ayanokoji said directly, "Tsukishiro has accelerated his plans."

Tang Yu frowned. "What plans?"

"The White Room plan." Ayanokoji's voice was still calm, but a rare flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. "I was the first successful product, and you're... an unexpected variable."

Tang Yu's heart began to race. "Explain."