Scheming

That night, not long after Kazama In returned to his dorm, his phone received an encrypted communication request. Upon answering, Horikita Manabu's steady, slightly authoritative voice came through:

"Kazama, Class C has formally submitted a complaint to the Student Council in the names of three basketball club members—Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune. They accuse Class D's Sudo Ken of unilaterally using violence against them after club activities, causing physical injury. As vice president, you'll need to attend the review meeting next week."

Kazama In was unsurprised and replied calmly, "Understood. I'll be there on time."

"Good. As for Class D's situation... keep an eye on it." Horikita added with pointed meaning before ending the call.

Setting down his phone, Kazama In wasted no time. He opened his specially modified computer, the cold light of the screen illuminating his expressionless face. His fingers flew across the keyboard like a silent concerto, easily bypassing the school's layered surveillance system. Soon, a high-definition surveillance video was downloaded. The footage clearly recorded everything that had happened that day at the back gate of the gymnasium: the full sequence of Sudo Ken being surrounded and provoked by the three Class C students, eventually retaliating when he could no longer endure.

Kazama In's jet-black pupils fixed on the screen showing Ishizaki and the others throwing the first punch. The corner of his mouth curled into a faint, icy arc. "Looks like this can be put to good use."

The next morning, news of Class C's complaint against Sudo spread through Class D like wildfire. The classroom buzzed with discussion, filled with worry, anger, and doubt.

When the bell rang, Chabashira Sae stepped up to the podium, adjusted her glasses, and spoke in her usual flat tone, carrying undeniable weight: "Regarding the complaint filed by Class C basketball club members Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune, accusing our class's Sudo Ken of violent behavior after club activities last week, the Student Council has formally accepted it. Per procedure, a review meeting will be held next week. The outcome will directly affect class points and Sudo's personal penalties, with serious cases possibly involving expulsion."

"What?! Those bastards!" Sudo Ken slammed his desk and stood up, face twisted with rage, "Those three scumbags were the ones who surrounded and provoked me first! I was just defending myself! This is a false accusation!"

"Sudo-kun! Calm down!" Hirata Yosuke immediately stood up to intervene.

Kushida Kikyo also rose at the right moment, her face carrying just the right amount of concern, her sweet voice clear as it carried through the classroom: "Everyone! The most important thing now is to find evidence proving Sudo-kun's innocence! Did anyone... see what happened at the back gate of the gym after club activities that day? Or any witnesses?" Her earnest gaze swept across the entire class.

Silence filled the classroom. Most people kept their heads down. Koenji Rokusuke lounged lazily against his chair, playing with his blonde hair, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Oh my, a clash of barbarians? Quite unsightly. But given Sudo-kun's hot temper, getting surrounded and then lashing out... wouldn't be surprising." His words precisely hit Sudo's sore spot.

"Koenji! What the hell did you say?!" Sudo Ken's eyes blazed, on the verge of exploding.

"Enough!" Chabashira Sae snapped sharply, "Sudo, sit down! Koenji, watch your words! Now is not the time for infighting!" Her piercing gaze swept the room, "As Kushida said, finding witnesses is key. But if we don't, Class D will be in a very disadvantageous position at next week's meeting. After dismissal, think it over carefully." She announced the end of class.

Kazama In sat quietly through it all, his expression unusually calm. His gaze slowly swept over his silent classmates, finally landing on Sakura Airi, who sat in the corner, almost curling into herself. The girl kept her head down, fingers tightly twisted together, body trembling slightly, her face pale beyond words. "Intense fear and struggle... almost certain. She's the witness." Kazama In understood in his heart but didn't call it out. Now wasn't the time.

After school, Kazama In didn't head straight back to his dorm or the library as usual. Instead, he went directly to the commercial district near the school, eventually stopping in front of a gaudily decorated karaoke bar with flashing neon lights. Muffled, deafening music and noise seeped from the entrance.

Just as he was about to step inside, a familiar, energetic voice sounded behind him:

"Kazama-kun?"

Kazama In turned to see Ichinose Honami passing by with a few girls from Class B. When she saw him, her face immediately lit up with a delighted smile, and she trotted over: "What a coincidence! Kazama-kun, are you here to have fun too?"

"Ichinose, is this the Kazama-kun you've talked about?" A short-haired girl beside her looked at Kazama In with curiosity, her eyes carrying a friendly tease, "He really is handsome! No wonder Ichinose, you..."

"Aoi! Don't talk nonsense!" Ichinose's cheeks flushed instantly as she cut off her friend's teasing, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at Kazama In.

Kazama In merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the Class B girls' teasing, his gaze returning to Ichinose: "I have some business to handle."

"Eh? In here?" Ichinose looked at the somewhat noisy and ambiguous entrance of the karaoke bar, her brow unconsciously furrowing, her face full of concern, "Kazama-kun, this kind of place... feels a bit chaotic. What kind of business? Do you need help?" She cared too much about Kazama In to stop herself from pressing.

Kazama In looked at Ichinose's undisguised worry and paused for a moment. He hadn't wanted to involve her, but her persistence told him he couldn't easily brush her off. He lowered his voice, uttering just two words: "Ryuen."

Ichinose Honami's blue eyes widened instantly! Ryuen Kakeru? That dangerous figure from Class C, known for violence and unscrupulous methods? Kazama-kun was going to see him alone? In a place like this? A wave of intense unease seized her heart.

Kazama In said no more and turned to step into the karaoke bar. But just as he took a step, his arm was tightly grabbed by Ichinose.

"I'm coming with you!" Ichinose's tone was unusually firm, carrying an unrefusable resolve. She turned quickly to her friends, "Sorry, Aoi, you all go ahead! I have something to take care of!" Without waiting for Kazama In to object, she followed closely behind him through the door into the dim, music-thundering entrance.

Kazama In looked at the girl beside him, her face tense but her resolve unwavering. A trace of helplessness flickered in his jet-black eyes, but it ultimately dissolved into an almost inaudible sigh. He reached back and gently grasped her slightly cold hand. "Stay close to me."

Ichinose's heart leaped at his sudden touch, her cheeks reddening further, but the tension seemed slightly soothed by the firm contact. She nodded vigorously.

The two moved through the noisy music and dim lighting. Kazama In walked with clear purpose, heading straight for the largest private room. Pushing open the door, a thick wave of smoke, alcohol, and perfume hit them.

Inside the room, Ryuen Kakeru sat sprawled in the center of a sofa, a scantily clad hostess on each arm, a glass of amber liquor swirling in his hand. Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune, their faces still bearing injuries, were obsequiously toasting him from the side. But the most eye-catching figure was the black giant standing like an iron tower behind Ryuen's sofa—Albert Yamada. Nearly two meters tall, muscles bulging, wearing a tight black tank top, his bronze skin glistening under the lights, he radiated a suffocating pressure in silence.

The arrival of Kazama In and Ichinose instantly drew everyone's attention.

Ryuen Kakeru squinted, recognized the newcomers, and a malicious grin spread across his face, his voice dripping with heavy sarcasm: "Oh? Rare guests! Isn't this Class D's 'Arbiter'? And our Class B little angel, Ichinose Honami? What, can't hack it in Class D, so you brought your fling to pledge allegiance to Class C?" He deliberately used crude, vulgar language, drawing laughter from Ishizaki and the others. (Through intel, he used Koenji's nickname for the protagonist, not knowing his true identity.)

Ichinose's face paled at his filthy words, but Kazama In tightened his grip on her hand, signaling her to stay calm. His expression remained composed, ignoring the insults as he cut straight to the point: "Ryuen, about your underlings' false accusation against Sudo—drop it."

"False accusation?" Ryuen laughed exaggeratedly, but his eyes were cold as a viper's, "Ishizaki and the others' injuries are real! Kazama In, who do you think you are? You think one word from you makes me back off? You think bringing Class B's little bunny rabbit scares me?" He waved his hand dismissively.

Albert Yamada, receiving Ryuen's signal, moved like a war machine activated, stepping forward with heavy, deliberate strides, his face blank as he approached Kazama In and Ichinose. His massive hand, like a giant fan, shot toward Ichinose's slender shoulder with a terrifying whoosh! The intent was clear—subdue the seemingly weaker one first, to intimidate Kazama In.

Ichinose gasped in fright, instinctively stepping back, but Kazama In moved faster!

Just as Albert's fingers were about to touch Ichinose's shoulder, Kazama In's left hand, still holding hers, remained still, while his right hand shot out like lightning! It precisely clamped onto Albert's tree-trunk-thick wrist!

A flicker of surprise crossed Albert's eyes, then he grinned savagely and tried to wrench free. But Kazama In's seemingly slender fingers locked on like iron pincers! Then, with a strange twist of his wrist, he wrenched and dislocated it at an odd angle.

"Crack!" A sickening, brittle sound rang out, accompanied by Albert's stifled grunt!

Albert's thick arm bent at an unnatural angle, his massive frame losing balance from the searing pain, crashing to one knee with a thud. Beads of sweat instantly burst from his forehead! The entire room fell dead silent! Ishizaki and the others' laughter died in their throats, replaced by sheer terror. Even Ryuen Kakeru's eyes flickered with barely concealed shock! He hadn't expected Kazama In to strike so ruthlessly and decisively!

Kazama In released his grip, letting Albert kneel in agony. His calm voice cut through the pin-drop silence of the room, as if he hadn't just dislocated a man's arm: "Just a simple shoulder dislocation. With his build, it'll heal quickly."

Ignoring the fearful stares around him, he calmly pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and shoved the stolen surveillance footage directly in front of Ryuen's face. The video played clearly—Ishizaki and the others provoking and surrounding Sudo, and Sudo being forced to retaliate.

"The evidence of the false accusation is right here." Kazama In's voice was like ice, "If this video shows up in the Student Council review room, or if the school administration sees it... Ryuen, guess what happens to Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo—the ones who threw the first punch and maliciously framed someone?" His gaze cut like a cold blade across the pale faces of the three, "Expulsion. That's the only outcome."

Ryuen Kakeru's face darkened to the point of dripping water. He stared fixedly at the footage on Kazama In's phone, then at Albert gasping on the floor, and finally at Kazama In's terrifyingly calm face, radiating absolute control. He knew Kazama In wasn't bluffing. This "Arbiter" held irrefutable evidence he couldn't overturn.

"...What do you want?" Ryuen's voice carried suppressed fury and a hint of reluctant concession.

Kazama In pocketed his phone and pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his inner pocket—a formal contract bearing the emblem of Advanced Nurturing High School. He unfolded it and held it out to Ryuen. The contract clearly stated:

1. Class C agrees to withdraw the violence complaint against Sudo Ken, acknowledging the incident as an internal basketball club conflict with mutual responsibility.

2. Class C agrees not to leak this incident or the video footage externally or use it in any subsequent attacks on Class D.

3. In exchange, Class D (Kazama In) agrees not to submit the video to the school administration or Student Council (unless Class C breaches the agreement).

4. Additional Clause: In the upcoming Student Council presidential election, all valid votes held by Class C must be cast for the candidate designated by Kazama In (signature line provided below).

Ryuen Kakeru stared at the contract, especially that final clause about the votes. His pupils sharply contracted. A low, cold laugh escaped him: "Heh... Kazama In, you're not just an enforcer, but an ambitious schemer too? You've even got your eyes on the Student Council president's seat? What a well-laid plan!"

"Sign, or don't sign." Kazama In's voice was utterly flat. "The choice is yours."

The private room fell into dead silence. Albert's heavy, ragged breathing was especially clear. Ishizaki and the others were terrified, staring at Ryuen in fear. Ichinose Honami was also shaken by the tense atmosphere and the ruthless tactics Kazama In had displayed, gripping his hand tightly, her palm slick with cold sweat.

Ryuen Kakeru's gaze swept back and forth between the contract, his pained underling, and Kazama In's unfathomably deep, ink-black pupils.

"Fine! But let's drop Article 1, and I'm adding one demand—you don't interfere this time!" Ryuen Kakeru stared fixedly at Kazama In.

Kazama In replied calmly, "That's certainly no problem."

In the end, a flash of ruthlessness and unwillingness flickered in Ryuen's eyes, but he still snatched the pen handed over by a nearby lackey, signed his name on the contract, and pressed his thumbprint heavily onto it!

"Then, get lost!" Ryuen tossed the signed contract back to Kazama In, forcing the word out through gritted teeth.

Kazama In caught the contract, confirmed it was correct, and put it away. The ice on his face instantly melted away, as if the murderous aura from moments ago had been an illusion. He walked over to Albert, who was kneeling on one knee, and crouched down.

"Bear with it," he said calmly. His hands moved swiftly and precisely, gripping Albert's shoulder and arm, then pulling, twisting, and pushing in one motion.

Click! Another soft sound, accompanied by a relieved growl from Albert. His twisted arm instantly returned to normal.

Kazama In then pulled out a few tightly sealed packets of high-efficacy anti-inflammatory painkillers and a small bottle of topical spray from his bag (as if prepared in advance), handing them to the still-dazed Albert: "Take these orally, twice a day. Use the spray externally for swelling. Sorry, I was a bit heavy-handed just now." His tone of apology was sincere, as if he were merely apologizing for a small mistake.

Albert looked at the medicine in his hands, then at Kazama In's calm face, and nodded with a complicated expression.

Kazama In stood up, once again taking the hand of the still-slightly-dazed Ichinose Honami. "Let's go."

Under the complex and wary gazes of Class C, the two of them calmly left the private room, thick with the stench of smoke, alcohol, and violence.