Searching · Going Home

"Openness and integrity..." Kamuro Masumi repeated, a hint of amusement in her voice, "In this school, those who can uphold these qualities are either strong enough to face any challenge, or..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but gave Shiina Hiyori a meaningful look before throwing the question back at her.

"What do you think Shiina? Which category does Big Brother belong to? Or... is he neither?"

This is a more direct probe.

She wanted to see how Shiina Hiyori Tanaka Yukishin define Yukino Tanaka, as this would reflect the depth of her understanding of Tanaka and her own stance.

Shiina Hiyori met her gaze, her smile unchanged, still as pure as ever.

"I think," she gently set down her milkshake cup, her voice like a whisper, yet clearly reaching Kamuro's ears, "that Yukishin-kun ... he's more like a river. Calm on the surface, yet containing unimaginable power and depth within. The direction of its flow depends on the guidance of the riverbed, and also on its own will. It can nourish both banks, but also, when necessary... change course or unleash a monstrous wave. As for whether it's fearless in the face of challenges or something else..."

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes. "As his close younger sister, Kamuro should know better than I do, right? I'm just an observer who occasionally reads on the shore and is drawn in by the sound of the flowing water."

She deftly pushed the question back to her, emphasizing the special relationship between Kamuro and Tanaka by referring to her as "little sister."

At the same time, he used the term "bystander" to clarify his position—at least his publicly acknowledged position.

This metaphor was both vivid and highly ambiguous, making it difficult for Kamuro Masumi to pinpoint its exact flaw.

Kamuro Masumi knew that further questioning would yield little substantial result.

This Shiina Hiyori is far more mature than she appears, and her art of speaking is masterful.

She picked up her iced Americano and took a big gulp; the cold liquid made her even more awake.

"A very good metaphor. I hope this river... will eventually flow in the direction everyone hopes for."

She ended that topic and moved on to some trivial anecdotes about campus life and book recommendations.

Shiina Hiyori switched channels accordingly, and the atmosphere became relaxed again.

After sitting for a while longer, the two politely said goodbye and went their separate ways.

Without delay, Kamuro Masumi returned straight to the dormitory building after leaving Palette and quickly headed towards Sakayanagi Arisu's room.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door, her movement carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Please come in."

From inside the door came Sakayanagi Arisu's unique, slightly languid, and clear voice.

Kamuro Masumi pushed open the door and entered.

The woman who came into view Sakayanagi Arisu, was quite different from her usual image, which was impeccably dressed in a school uniform and as perfect as a doll.

Today she was wearing comfortable off-white casual clothes, the soft fabric outlining her slender figure.

She wore very light makeup, which highlighted her fair skin and clear, large eyes, making her already delicate face appear even more innocent and pure.

The girlish cuteness that was usually hidden by her superior demeanor was amplified, and she actually had a gentle, girl-next-door feel to her.

She was sitting in a wheelchair by the window, with an open hardcover book on her lap.

"You're back, Kamuro."

Sakayanagi Arisu looked up, saw Kamuro Masumi, and smiled faintly, a smile that seemed especially approachable given her current attire.

"Um."

Kamuro Masumi the door behind her and walked over to Sakayanagi Arisu.

Without any pleasantries, he went straight to the point and began to recount the events clearly and at a fast pace.

"When I went to see my older brother off today, besides Karuizawa Kei, there were three other people there. They were Ichinose Honami from Class A, Shiina Hiyori from Class C, and... Kiryuin Fuuka from Class B of the second year of high school."

Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers, which were gripping the book's pages, paused almost imperceptibly.

"Senior from Kiryuin?"

There was a hint of genuine surprise in her voice, but it quickly returned to calm. "This combination... is quite interesting. Go on."

Kamuro Masumi nodded and described in detail what she saw when she arrived, the expressions of everyone, the details of their clothing, and Karuizawa Kei's obvious sleep deprivation and eagerness to leave.

Next, she focused on reporting her conversation with Shiina Hiyori in Palette, repeating the key points almost word for word.

This includes Shiina's metaphor of Tanaka Yukishin as a "river," her evaluations of Sakayanagi and Ichinose, and even the possible reactions of the students sitting next to her.

Sakayanagi Arisu listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrests of her wheelchair.

"Oh, I see... It's all girls."

Sakayanagi Arisu thought of herself, and then of others.

Her first reaction was almost identical to that of an ordinary person—a young man's romantic escapades.

After all, Tanaka Yukishin is exceptionally beautiful and talented, so it's only natural that she attracts girls.

But the next second, she overturned that idea herself.

How many beautiful, outstanding, and well-connected girls are there in this school?

In the first year of high school alone, Class A has the firmly established Ichinose Honami and her team, while Class B, besides Arisu Sakayanagi Arisu Yamamura Miki, Morishita Ai, and Asuka Shiraishi...

Not to mention Tanaka Yukishin's Class D, as well as Kushida Kikyo, Hasebe Haruka...

So many beautiful girls right here, within easy reach.

Instead of getting to know them better, he went and "provoked" girls from other classes or even other grades?

This doesn't fit the almost cold, pragmatic style that Tanaka Yukishin exhibits.

There must be a deeper logic and purpose behind everything he does.

So, is the reason Tanaka Yukishin establishes connections with these girls the same as her relationship with Kamuro Masumi?

Sakayanagi Arisu knew very well why Tanaka Yukishin had delivered a message to her and Kamuro.

They valued her because of her "qualifications" and "abilities".

It's a kind of advance "investment" or "bet," hoping that she can grow up and become an interesting opponent or piece in his future game, bringing him enough "fun."

For Kamuro Masumi, it was more direct: it was an acknowledgment of the "little sister" who had always helped him run errands and handle miscellaneous tasks, and a small "compensation for her hard work."

So, Ichinose Honami, Shiina Hiyori, Kiryuin Fuuka...

Do they also possess some special "value" or "qualities" that Tanaka Yukishin valued?

This thought made Sakayanagi Arisu's heart beat slightly faster.

She always thought she was special, one of the few people in the first-year class whom Tanaka Yukishin "looked at".

But what if... there are even more unseen "big fish" lurking in this first-year high school class?

"Perhaps... it really does still exist."

Sakayanagi Arisu muttered to herself, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a chess player discovering a new game.

After all, in her own Class B alone, she had already noticed two extremely well-hidden "water ghosts" who were no less capable than her— Morimiya and Sanada.

They usually behaved in a low-key and even somewhat mediocre manner, but the occasional glances they gave and the way they handled certain details made Sakayanagi Arisu sense that they were kindred spirits.

After she brought it up, he admitted it directly.

That was also good luck.

After all, for people like them, if they are determined to hide, it is extremely difficult to completely uncover them.

Even those who are less accomplished can blend well into the background as long as they are mature enough and know how to assess the situation.

Thinking of this, Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly laughed softly and happily, like a cat that had discovered a new and interesting toy.

"Campus life in the future... seems to be even more exciting than I expected. I can't wait!"

She stopped smiling and turned her attention to more practical issues.

Intelligence is the foundation of strategic maneuvering.

"By the way, Kamuro," her voice regained its usual calm, "How's the infiltration of Class C and Class D going? Have you made any progress with planting or bribing spies?"

While she enjoys the challenge, she never neglects the fundamental task of gathering information.

Upon hearing this, Kamuro Masumi showed a hint of helplessness on her face and shook her head.

"There has been almost no progress. The current situation is that although Class C and Class D are behind Class A and Class B, the gap is not insurmountable, not so hopeless that their members would be willing to take huge risks to become traitors."

She explained in detail, "The reason we were able to get that scrap of basic information about Class D was because one of the students in Class D was really short on cash and desperately needed points. Plus, he thought that information was irrelevant and didn't touch on the core issues, so he was willing to secretly sell it to us. It cost us 10,000 points to get that one piece of information."

She paused, her tone tinged with seriousness.

"Now, if we want to spend money to buy more detailed and crucial information, such as class strategies, core member relationships, and Special Exam layouts, not only will the price be outrageously high, but the risks are also extremely high. First, we cannot verify the authenticity in time; the other party may use false information to cheat us out of points. Second, even if the information is true, we cannot guarantee its timeliness and accuracy; it is very likely that by the time we obtain it, it will be outdated or have been used by the opponent to set a trap. The input and output are completely disproportionate, and it is not worth the loss."

Sakayanagi Arisu listened quietly, showing no disappointment on her face, as if she had already anticipated this outcome.

"It's alright," she said calmly, with a sense of control over the entire situation. "Take your time, there's no need to rush. This game has only just begun."

She turned her head, slightly raising her chin, her gaze seemingly piercing through the wall, seeing into the distant future. "The Special Exam that follow will come one after another. In these head-to-head competitions, the point gap between classes... will gradually widen. When the gap is large enough that some people feel despair, or see huge benefits, their scales will naturally tip. That will be the best time for us to make our move."

She extended her slender, fair left hand, her posture elegant and natural.

Kamuro Masumi immediately understood, stepped forward, and skillfully and respectfully extended her arm to steadily support Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu gripped the exquisite cane tightly in her right hand, using it for support as she slowly stood up.

Although the movements were somewhat slow, the posture remained elegant.

"Alright," Sakayanagi Arisu, steadying herself with the help of Kamuro Masumi, a hint of longing for the sunshine on her face. "We've been cooped up in the room long enough; it's time to go out and get some fresh air."

The two of them walked out of the room slowly, step by step, hand in hand.

Chapter 137, Section 136: Searching for Home

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the sunlight changed from glaring and scorching to bright and gentle.

The corridor was filled with the fresh scent of tatami mats and a faint smell of sweat.

Kiryuin Fuuka deftly stuffed the last team uniform into her suitcase, snapped the lock shut, and patted the lid with satisfaction.

After familiarizing myself with the competition venue, the excitement in my heart had not yet faded.

She stretched, her graceful curves subtly revealed beneath her loose martial arts uniform.

"Hey, want to go out for a walk? Get familiar with the area!"

She suggested it to the two second-grade girls in her room, a look of eager anticipation on her face.

"Please spare me, Maple. I've been traveling all day, and I just went to familiarize myself with the competition venue. My bones feel like they're falling apart. I just want to lie here."

A girl was hugging a pillow and wailing.

"Me too, I have a competition tomorrow."

Another chimed in, their eyelids already drooping.

Kiryuin Fuuka pouted.

"Tsk, how boring. I'll go find some fun myself."

The image of the Tanaka student from Tianzhong, who had brought her so much joy, flashed through her mind instantly.

She rose lightly, pushed open the door, and walked briskly through the hotel's slightly worn wooden corridor.

A moment later, the not-so-spacious corridor on the second floor of the hotel seemed to be filled with an inexplicable restlessness.

The footsteps, slightly hurried, tapped back and forth on the old wooden floor, finally stopping in front of a tightly closed wooden door.

Kiryuin Fuuka tossed her high ponytail tied behind her head, a few stray hairs sticking to her smooth forehead, revealing a rare look of confusion.

She had just ransacked the hot spring area downstairs, the corner of the vending machine, and even the pitiful little courtyard at the back of the hotel.

But Tanaka Yukishin seemed to have vanished into thin air.

"Strange... where did that kid hide?"

She muttered something under her breath, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm wooden door frame.

The leisurely mood to find some fun after settling in was now replaced by boredom from not being able to find the person I was looking for, adding a touch of annoyance.

When the wooden door was opened, what was seen was Miyajima Hayata with his back to the door, making a phone call.

The senior high school student sat cross-legged on the floor with his back to the door, one hand casually resting on a low table, and the other holding his phone to his ear.

The dim overhead light in the hotel cast his broad shadow onto the sliding door, and he spoke in hushed tones on the phone.

But his tone was relaxed and warm, clearly indicating that he was talking to his family.

Just as Kiryuin Fuuka was about to speak, Miyajima Hayata seemed to have heard the noise.