Calculation

That evening, not long after Kazama In returned to his dorm, his phone received an encrypted call request. When he answered, Horikita Manabu's steady, faintly authoritative voice came through:

"Kazama, Class C has officially filed a complaint with the Student Council on behalf of three Basketball Club members: Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune. They accused Ken Sudō of assaulting them after club activities and causing bodily harm. As vice president, you'll need to attend next week's hearing."

Kazama In wasn't surprised. "Understood. I'll be there on time."

"Good. Keep an eye on Class D," Horikita Manabu added pointedly, then ended the call.

Kazama set his phone down and immediately opened his customized computer. Its cold light illuminated his expressionless face. His fingers flew across the keyboard like he was playing a silent concerto, effortlessly slipping through the school's layers of security. Before long, he had downloaded a high-resolution surveillance video. It clearly showed everything that had happened by the gym's rear entrance that day: the three students from Class C surrounding and provoking Ken Sudō, and his eventual retaliation after he could no longer tolerate it.

Kazama's dark eyes fixed on the footage of Ishizaki and the others striking first. The faintest, coldest smile touched his lips. "Looks like I can make good use of this."

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

The bell rang, and Chabashira Sae walked to the front of the room. She adjusted her glasses. Her voice was as flat as ever, but carried undeniable weight. "The Student Council has formally accepted the complaint filed by Class C Basketball Club members Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune. They accused Ken Sudō of assaulting them after last week's club activities. A hearing will be held next week. Its outcome will directly affect the class's Class Points and Sudō's personal punishment. In serious cases, it could even lead to expulsion."

"What?! Those bastards!" Ken Sudō slammed his desk and shot to his feet, furious. "Those three losers were the ones who cornered and provoked me! I was just defending myself! They're making a false accusation!"

"Sudō! Calm down!" Hirata Yosuke immediately stood to stop him.

Kushida Kikyo rose at just the right moment, her face marked by a suitably worried expression. Her sweet voice carried clearly through the classroom. "Everyone! The most important thing now is to find evidence that proves Sudō is innocent! Did anyone... see what happened by the rear entrance to the gym after club activities that day? Or know of any witnesses?" Her earnest gaze swept over the class.

Silence filled the classroom. Most of the students lowered their heads. Koenji Rokusuke leaned lazily against his chair, playing with his blond hair. "Oh dear, oh dear. A brawl between savages? How unsightly. Still, given Sudō's fiery temper, it's hardly surprising that he struck back after being cornered." His words hit Sudō's sore spot squarely.

"Koenji! What the hell did you just say?" Ken Sudō glared at him, on the verge of exploding.

"Enough!" Chabashira Sae barked. "Sudō, sit down! Koenji, watch your language! This is no time for infighting!" Her sharp gaze swept across the room. "As Kushida said, finding witnesses is crucial. Without any, Class D will be at a serious disadvantage in next week's hearing. Think about it after class." She dismissed them.

Kazama In had sat quietly through the whole exchange, his expression unusually calm. His gaze slowly passed over his silent classmates before settling on Sakura Airi, who sat in the corner, almost curled into herself. Her head was lowered, her fingers twisted tightly together, and her body trembled slightly. She was deathly pale. She's terrified and conflicted... It's almost certain. She's the witness. Kazama understood, but didn't point it out. It wasn't time yet.

After school, Kazama In didn't head straight back to the dorm or to the library as usual. Instead, he went directly to the commercial district near the school and stopped in front of a gaudily decorated karaoke bar lit by flashing neon signs. Loud music and excited chatter drifted faintly from inside.

He was just about to go in when a familiar, energetic voice called out behind him:

"Kazama?"

Kazama turned and saw Ichinose Honami walking by with several girls from Class B. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with delight, and she jogged over. "What a coincidence! Are you here to have fun too, Kazama?"

"Ichinose, is this the Kazama you told us about?" asked a short-haired girl beside her, giving Kazama an openly friendly, teasing once-over. "He really is handsome! No wonder you—"

"Aoi! Don't say things like that!" Ichinose's cheeks instantly flushed as she cut her friend off, though her eyes sparkled as she looked at Kazama.

Kazama merely nodded in acknowledgment at the girls' teasing, then turned back to Ichinose. "I have something to take care of."

"Huh? In there?" Ichinose glanced at the noisy, vaguely seedy entrance. Her brow furrowed with concern. "Kazama, that place seems a little chaotic. What do you need to take care of? Do you need any help?" She cared about him too much to stop herself from asking.

Kazama looked at her undisguised worry and fell silent for a moment. He hadn't wanted to involve her, but her persistence made it clear he couldn't easily brush her off. Lowering his voice, he said just one word: "Ryuen."

Ichinose Honami's blue eyes widened. Ryuen Kakeru? The dangerous Class C student infamous for violence and unscrupulous methods? Kazama was going to confront him alone? In a place like this? A wave of alarm seized her.

Kazama said nothing more and turned to enter the karaoke bar. But as soon as he took a step, Ichinose grabbed his arm.

"I'm coming with you!" Ichinose's voice was unusually firm, leaving no room for argument. She turned to her friends and quickly said, "Sorry, Aoi! You girls go on ahead! I have something to do!" Then, before Kazama could object, she followed close behind him through the doors, into the haze of flashing lights and deafening music.

Kazama glanced at the girl beside him, tense but utterly determined. A trace of helplessness flashed through his dark eyes, then faded into an almost inaudible sigh. He took her slightly cold hand in his. "Stay close."

Ichinose's heart jumped when he suddenly took her hand, and her cheeks reddened further. But the firm warmth of his touch eased her tension a little, and she nodded emphatically.

They made their way through the loud music and dim lighting. Kazama knew exactly where he was going and headed straight for the largest private room. When he pushed the door open, a powerful mix of cigarette smoke, liquor, and perfume hit them.

Inside, Ryuen Kakeru sat in the middle of the sofa, legs spread wide, with two scantily dressed hostesses on either side of him. He swirled a glass of amber liquor in his hand. Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune, all still bearing bruises, fawned over him as they offered drinks. Most striking of all was the towering Black man standing behind and to the side of Ryuen's sofa like a human fortress—Albert Yamada. He stood nearly two meters tall, his muscles bulging beneath a tight black tank top. His bronze skin shone under the lights, and his silent presence radiated suffocating pressure.

Kazama In and Ichinose's entrance instantly drew everyone's attention.

Ryuen narrowed his eyes. When he recognized them, his lips spread into a malicious grin, and he spoke with heavy sarcasm. "Well, well! What an unexpected guest! If it isn't the 'Arbiter' of Class D—and our little angel from Class B, Ichinose Honami! What is it? Can't hack it in Class D, so you brought your lover to beg Class C for a place?" His deliberately crude insult drew laughter from Ishizaki and the others. (Through his intelligence network, Ryuen had learned that Koenji called the protagonist this, though he didn't know his real identity.)

Ichinose went pale with anger at his filthy language, but Kazama squeezed her hand to signal that she should stay calm. His expression unchanging, Kazama ignored the insults and got straight to the point. "Ryuen, it's time to put a stop to your underlings' false accusation against Sudō."

"False accusation?" Ryuen laughed exaggeratedly, though his eyes were cold as a snake's. "Ishizaki and the others are genuinely injured! Kazama In, who do you think you are? You think you can make me back down with a single word? You think bringing this little rabbit from Class B will scare me?" He waved his hand dismissively.

At Ryuen's signal, Albert Yamada moved like a war machine powering up. With heavy steps and an expressionless face, he advanced toward Kazama and Ichinose. His enormous hand swept forward with a menacing whoosh, reaching straight for Ichinose's slender shoulder. His intention was obvious: grab the weaker-looking one first and intimidate Kazama.

Ichinose cried out in fright and instinctively tried to retreat, but Kazama moved faster.

A split second before Albert's fingers touched Ichinose's shoulder, Kazama kept his left hand clasped around hers and shot out his right. He caught Albert's thick wrist, as broad as a tree trunk, with pinpoint accuracy.

Surprise flashed through Albert's eyes, then he sneered and tried to wrench himself free. But Kazama's fingers, though not particularly thick, locked around his wrist like iron pincers. Then Kazama twisted his wrist sharply at an unnatural angle.

A sickening crack rang out, followed by a stifled groan from Albert.

Albert's massive arm bent at a grotesque angle. The pain instantly threw off his balance, and he crashed down onto one knee. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The entire room fell silent. Ishizaki and the others stopped laughing, their faces filled with terror. Even Ryuen couldn't hide his shock. He hadn't expected Kazama to act so ruthlessly and decisively.

Kazama released Albert and let him kneel there in pain. His calm voice rang clearly through the utterly silent room, as if he hadn't just broken someone's arm. "It's only a dislocated shoulder. With his physique, an injury like this will heal quickly."

Ignoring the fearful stares around him, he calmly took out his phone and tapped the screen, shoving the stolen surveillance footage right in front of Ryuen. It clearly showed the entire incident: the way Ishizaki and the others had provoked and cornered Sudō, and how Sudō had been forced to fight back.

"The evidence that they made a false accusation is right here." Kazama's voice was ice-cold. "If this footage is shown in the Student Council hearing room, or seen by the school's administrators... Ryuen, what do you think will happen to Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo, who struck first and then made a malicious false accusation?" His gaze swept over their ashen faces like a cold blade. "Expulsion is their only outcome."

Ryuen's face darkened until it looked ready to drip with fury. He stared at the footage on Kazama's phone, glanced at Albert, who was gasping in pain on the floor, then fixed his gaze on Kazama's terrifyingly calm face, which exuded absolute control. He knew Kazama wasn't bluffing. The "Arbiter" had obtained evidence that left him no way to turn things around.

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

Kazama put away his phone, then pulled a neatly folded sheet of paper from inside his jacket—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 agreed to withdraw its accusation of violence against Ken Sudō and acknowledge that the incident was an internal Basketball Club dispute for which both parties shared responsibility.

2. Class C agreed not to disclose the incident or the footage, or use either to attack Class D in the future.

3. In exchange, Class D (Kazama In) agreed not to submit the footage to the school or the Student Council, unless Class C violated the agreement.

4. Additional clause: in the upcoming Student Council President election, all valid votes held by Class C must go to the candidate designated by Kazama In. (A signature line was provided below.)

Ryuen's pupils contracted when he read the contract, especially the final clause about the votes. He let out a low, cold laugh. "Heh... Kazama In, so you're not just a thug—you're ambitious, too? You've got your eye on the Student Council President's seat? That's quite a scheme!"

"Sign, or don't," Kazama said without the slightest change in his voice. "The choice is yours."

The room was utterly silent. Albert's labored breathing rang out clearly. Ishizaki and the others stood frozen, looking at Ryuen in fear. Ichinose Honami was also shaken by the tense standoff and the ruthless way Kazama had handled it. She clutched his hand tightly, her palm slick with cold sweat.

Ryuen's gaze shifted between the contract, his injured subordinate, and Kazama's unfathomably dark eyes.

"Fine! But forget about the first clause. And I want to add one more demand: you're not to interfere in this matter!" Ryuen fixed Kazama with a hard stare.

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

In the end, a glint of fury and resentment flashed in Ryuen's eyes, but he snatched up the pen a subordinate held out and signed the contract, pressing his fingerprint down hard beside his name.

"Now get out!" Ryuen tossed the signed contract back to Kazama and spat the words through clenched teeth.

Kazama caught the contract and put it away after checking that it was in order. The coldness vanished from his face, as if the fearsome man from moments ago had been an illusion. He walked over to Albert, who was still kneeling, and crouched beside him.

"Bear with it," he said calmly. He swiftly and precisely braced Albert's shoulder and arm, then pulled, pushed, and guided them back into place.

A quiet click sounded, followed by a relieved growl from Albert. His twisted arm was instantly back to normal.

Kazama took several packets of carefully sealed anti-inflammatory painkillers and a small bottle of topical spray from his bag, as if he'd come prepared, and handed them to the still-dazed Albert. "Take these twice a day. Use the spray to reduce the swelling. Sorry, I was a little rough just now." His apology sounded sincere, as if he were apologizing for some minor inconvenience.

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

Kazama stood and took Ichinose Honami's hand again. She still seemed a little dazed. "Let's go."

Under the complicated, wary gazes of everyone in Class C, the two of them calmly left the private room, thick with the smell of liquor, smoke, and violence.