The Special Hearing (Part 2)

The two walked in silence for a while. Tang Yu remembered something. "That day at the Gymnasium, your fighting ability was also...?"

"Results of the White Room's basic training." Ayanokoji answered briefly. "But your system is more unusual. I can't fully replicate it."

When they reached the school gate, Ayanokoji suddenly turned down a side path. "I have to go. Tsukishiro may have already informed the organization. I need to lie low for a while."

"Wait." Tang Yu stopped him. "How are we supposed to contact each other? If Tsukishiro..."

"Use this." Ayanokoji handed him an old-fashioned pager. "Encrypted channel. It can only send number codes. Press 999 in an emergency, and I'll find you."

Tang Yu took the antique-looking device. "Why are you helping me?"

Ayanokoji gazed into the distance, his eyes growing unfathomable. "Maybe... I also want to see how far Class D can go.

"Maybe... I'm just tired of being a test subject." He paused. "Take care of Karuizawa. Tsukishiro likes to target the people his targets care about most."

With that, he turned and left, soon disappearing at the end of the path beneath the drifting cherry blossoms.

Tang Yu stood where he was, processing everything he'd learned that day. The System Interface unfolded automatically:

[Quest Update: Protect Karuizawa Kei, investigate the White Room]

[Clue Obtained: Tsukishiro Shuhei's true identity]

[Emotion Points: 72300/∞]

[New Ability: Memory Projection (Temporary)]

[Effect: Converts specific emotions into tangible images]

[Cost: 15000 points/use]

The new ability seemed powerful, but its cost was astonishing. Just as Tang Yu was about to examine it more closely, he suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind him.

"Tang Yu!"

He turned. Karuizawa Kei came running over, panting, her cheeks flushed from the run. "I heard you were called to the principal's office. What happened?"

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Tang Yu hesitated. Telling her the truth would only put her in greater danger. "Nothing, just routine questions about yesterday."

Karuizawa clearly didn't believe him, but she didn't press him. She took his hand. "Come on, everyone's waiting for us. Hirata said we should celebrate winning the Debate Tournament."

Class D's celebration was held in an empty classroom. There were simple snacks and drinks, but the atmosphere was lively. When Tang Yu and Karuizawa appeared together, their classmates cheered.

"The hero has arrived!" Kanji Ike made an exaggerated bow.

"Today's debate was amazing!" Several girls crowded around Karuizawa. "Especially when you talked about your own experiences. I cried!"

Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing in a corner, watching everything pensively. He walked over. "Thanks for today."

Horikita gave a slight shake of her head. "I only did the right thing." She lowered her voice. "That Tsukishiro... He's not normal."

"You sensed it too?"

"It wasn't just a feeling." Horikita's gaze sharpened. "When he tapped the table, my thoughts became... blurry. If I hadn't suddenly come to my senses, I might have agreed to all his proposals."

Tang Yu's heart tightened. Horikita Manabu seemed to have been affected too, but he didn't remember the details. Tsukishiro's ability was even more dangerous than they'd imagined.

Halfway through the celebration, Tang Yu noticed a familiar figure flash past the classroom's back door-Ryuen Kakeru. The tyrant of Class C was rarely alone.

He watched the celebrating Class D with a complicated expression. When Ryuen realized Tang Yu had noticed him, he beckoned for him to follow, then disappeared into the hallway.

Tang Yu made an excuse about going to the bathroom and followed him out. Ryuen was waiting in the stairwell. Unusually, he didn't provoke Tang Yu, but instead revealed a strange device on his arm: a tiny metal chip embedded in his skin, with traces of surgical healing around it.

"Tsukishiro installed this controller in me." Ryuen's voice was hoarse. "It can amplify my aggression, and it can also make me suffer unbearable pain."

Tang Yu watched him warily. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I've figured it out." Ryuen grinned, revealing beastlike canine teeth. "I'd rather work with you to take him down than be Tsukishiro's lab rat."

"Work together?" Tang Yu couldn't believe it. "The thirty people who attacked me at the Gymnasium..."

"Tsukishiro was controlling them." A trace of fear flashed in Ryuen's eyes. "He can put things in your head... make you see hallucinations, change your memories."

Tang Yu remembered the nightmare Karuizawa had described and suddenly understood. Tsukishiro had been preparing for this day all along.

"I'll think about it," Tang Yu finally said.

Ryuen sneered. "Don't think too long. Tsukishiro's under investigation by the school now, which makes this the most dangerous time." He turned to leave, then stopped. "By the way, watch out for Karuizawa. Tsukishiro wants her especially badly. He says her emotional patterns are 'precious.'"

The words made Tang Yu's blood turn cold. He returned to the celebration and immediately looked for Karuizawa. He found her chatting with Hirata and the others, safe for the time being.

But Ryuen's warning lingered in his mind-Tsukishiro wouldn't give up, and Karuizawa was the most vulnerable link.

After the celebration, Tang Yu insisted on walking Karuizawa back to her dormitory. Night had fallen, and cherry blossoms drifted down like snow in the moonlight. Karuizawa suddenly stopped.

"What exactly happened today?" She looked straight into Tang Yu's eyes. "Don't lie to me. I can tell something's wrong."

Tang Yu hesitated, then decided to tell her part of the truth. "Tsukishiro Shuhei is dangerous. He... has a special interest in you."

Karuizawa's face went pale. "Because of how I've changed?"

"Yeah. But don't worry, I'll protect you." Tang Yu took her hand. "Just be extra careful for now. Don't go anywhere alone, and contact me immediately if anything seems out of the ordinary."

Karuizawa nodded, then suddenly rose onto her toes and lightly kissed Tang Yu on the cheek. "Thank you... for everything you've done for me."

The unexpected kiss left Tang Yu stunned. Karuizawa's face instantly turned bright red, and she turned to run off, but Tang Yu gently pulled her back. The two gazed at each other beneath the cherry tree. Moonlight edged her golden hair in silver, and the emotion in her eyes was pure and ardent.

"I..." Tang Yu had just begun to speak when the system suddenly emitted a shrill 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. Beneath the moonlight, a blurry figure was aiming some kind of device at them.

When Tang Yu met his gaze, the man-undoubtedly Tsukishiro-made a throat-slitting gesture, then vanished into the night.

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

"Nothing." Tang Yu forced himself to relax. "Come on, I'll walk you to the dorm entrance."

When they parted, Karuizawa reluctantly released his hand. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Tang Yu smiled, but inside, alarm bells were ringing. Tsukishiro had already marked Karuizawa as his target, and Tang Yu's system wasn't yet enough to ensure their safety.

He needed more allies, more power, and... more information about the White Room.

Back at his apartment, Tang Yu opened his computer and began organizing all the clues. The System Interface displayed the latest mission:

[Main Quest: Thwart the White Room's conspiracy]

[Current Progress: 35%]

[Next Objective: Contact Ayanokoji and obtain more information]

[Danger Level: Extremely High]

Outside the window, a blood-red moon slowly rose, heralding ill omens. Tang Yu knew the real battle had only just begun.