Undercurrents

The crisp chime of the doorbell rang as Kazama In left, then faded into the flowing jazz and lingering aroma of coffee. Sakayanagi Arisu didn't move right away. She remained seated upright, her violet eyes piercing the glass window as they followed his tall figure merging into the night, until he disappeared completely among the tree shadows outlined by the streetlights.

The café's warm yellow light gently enveloped her. In the bone china cup beside her, the warm milk gave off the sweet scent of honey. That had been Kazama In's unquestionable "judgment." Her fingertips unconsciously brushed the warmth lingering on the cup. The ease and warmth of their reunion had ebbed away like the tide, replaced by a heavy feeling tangled with complicated thoughts.

Kamuro Sumire appeared silently at her side like a ghost. Her voice was low and wary. "He's gone. Should we head back, Sakayanagi?"

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't look back. She simply gave a soft "Mm." Her gaze remained fixed on the spot outside where Kazama In had disappeared, as if a ripple of air stirred by his departure still lingered there. After a long while, she slowly turned her eyes away. Deep in those perceptive violet eyes, fragments of a distant yet vivid memory stirred.

The tide of memory carried her gently and coldly back several years, to the Kazama family estate, where an atmosphere of elegance and oppression hung in the air. In the vast Japanese-style room, the tatami smelled of dry straw, and the finely crafted screens depicted an ancient scene of pines and cranes. Sunlight streamed through the paper doors, casting soft patches of light across the floor.

Back then, she had been even more frail, a girl who needed a wheelchair to get around. Her silver hair had been meticulously combed, and she wore an expensive kimono befitting her status. Seated across from her was Kazama Ryunosuke—Kazama In's father.

The Kazama's Father she remembered was nothing like the man known by the chilling title of "The Arbiter." His deep-set eyes and facial contours resembled Kazama In's, but his features were softer, and he always wore a gentle smile that seemed to come from the heart and made people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze. His voice was deep and pleasant. When he spoke, he always leaned slightly forward and looked attentively at the person before him. His genuine concern could melt almost anyone's defenses. Whether he was dealing with important family officials or a frail junior like her, he was always kind, approachable, and magnanimous. He was the helmsman of the Kazama family's enormous ship, yet he was more like a tranquil harbor capable of calming every storm.

That conversation had begun with the warmth characteristic of Kazama Ryunosuke.

"Arisu, are you feeling better? I heard you've been unwell with the change of seasons." Kazama Ryunosuke poured her a cup of matcha at just the right temperature. His movements were fluid and natural, imbued with an ancient rhythm.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I'm much better now." Young Sakayanagi Arisu inclined her head slightly. Her manners were impeccable, but her eyes held a composure far beyond her years.

Kazama Ryunosuke smiled and nodded. He set down the tea set and casually folded his hands over his knees, relaxed but still elegant. "It's heartening to see you and little In gradually growing up." His gaze lingered on Sakayanagi Arisu's face with an elder's affection, then he seemed to bring up the next subject casually. "Speaking of which, our families have a deep connection. Your father and I have always hoped the next generation would carry that bond forward."

Sakayanagi Arisu's heartbeat quickened for an instant. She keenly caught the implication hidden in her uncle's words. She lifted her clear violet eyes and quietly waited for him to continue.

Kazama Ryunosuke's smile deepened, carrying a hint of tentative probing and a certain... expectation. "Arisu is an exceptional girl: intelligent, resilient, and sensible. Little In can be a bit cold at times, but deep down, he's a good boy who values his bonds." He paused, softening his voice as though stating something perfectly natural. "Actually, your father and I have spoken privately. We feel that you and In are very well suited to each other, whether in temperament, family background, or the paths that lie ahead. If our families were to become even closer through marriage someday, it would be a wonderful thing."

The words "business marriage" had gone unspoken, but their meaning was unmistakable. The air seemed to freeze for an instant.

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't respond immediately. Her slender fingers traced the rim of her teacup, and she lowered her gaze, her long silver-white lashes concealing the emotions stirring beneath them. She wasn't naive; she understood better than anyone the political significance and commercial value of uniting two giants. Yet in that moment, her uncle's unspoken logic of "maximizing mutual benefit" collided subtly with the purer, more complicated feelings quietly growing in her heart for "big brother In," a taciturn boy who nevertheless always gave her strength in small ways.

She understood that, at the time, the Sakayanagi family, though distinguished, was far beneath the immense power wielded by the Kazama family, whose roots ran deep through politics, business, and even certain unspeakable realms. From the standpoint of profiting through a purely commercial alliance, choosing the Sakayanagi family wasn't the best option for the Kazama family. One could even call it "marrying down." Her uncle's proposal seemed more like an expression of his appreciation for the bond between their families, as well as... a certain recognition and sympathy for her personally?

After a brief silence, Sakayanagi Arisu lifted her head and looked straight into Kazama Ryunosuke's kind eyes, which seemed capable of seeing into people's hearts. Her voice was quiet, yet carried a clarity and resolve beyond her years. It held a girl's characteristic reserve, but also revealed a hint of her true feelings. "Uncle, I understand what you mean. As for Young Master Kazama..." She paused, as if weighing her words. A faint blush crept across her pale cheeks. "I've always... had feelings for him that are different from what I feel for others. It's just that..." Her gaze was frank and composed. "The Sakayanagi family probably can't offer the Kazama family enough support at present." She tactfully acknowledged the disparity in their power.

Kazama Ryunosuke paused in surprise, then the smile in his eyes grew warmer, full of undisguised appreciation and a trace of understanding. He waved a hand lightly, as if brushing away a speck of dust. "Arisu, you're overthinking it. The Kazama family doesn't need to depend on any other family. What I value is the person herself. Your intelligence, your resilience, and your character are what matter most. In would be lucky to meet someone like you." His words were utterly sincere. His regard for people themselves, above worldly interests, was one of the qualities that made Kazama Ryunosuke so deeply compelling.

The mood of the conversation grew more relaxed. Kazama Ryunosuke was clearly pleased with Sakayanagi Arisu's candor and composure. He changed the subject and brought up another important matter.

"By the way, Arisu," he said, his expression growing a little more serious though his voice remained gentle. "I heard your father has decided to send you to that 'Advanced Nurturing High School'?"

Sakayanagi Arisu nodded. "Yes, Uncle. My father thinks its environment and system are better suited to my... development." She tactfully avoided mentioning "physical limitations."

Kazama Ryunosuke lifted his teacup and took a sip. After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weight and a solemn sense of entrusting something to her. "Actually... I'm planning to send In there, too."

Surprise flashed through Sakayanagi Arisu's violet eyes. Given Kazama In's status and abilities, entering Advanced Nurturing High School—especially starting in Class D—was simply inconceivable.

Kazama Ryunosuke seemed to see her confusion. He set down his teacup and leaned slightly forward. For the first time, deep worry and helplessness showed clearly in his eyes, usually so full of warmth. "In... ever since 'that incident,' he hasn't been able to find true peace inside. It's as if he's trapped in an invisible cage. The calmer he seems on the surface, the more dangerous the storm raging within him becomes. He needs a new environment, somewhere he can... find his bearings again." He didn't explain what had happened, but the heaviness of it already filled the room.

Sakayanagi Arisu's heart sank. She knew exactly what her uncle meant. It was buried deep within the Kazama family, known to very few, yet it had completely changed Kazama In's life. That word, that scene, was taboo—no one dared touch it lightly—yet it was like a ghost, everywhere and nowhere.

Kazama In's mother, the beautiful, gentle woman who always wore a warm smile, had been kidnapped when he was young in a heinous act of revenge, meticulously planned by a hostile organization. Most horrifying of all, the deranged thugs, determined to break Kazama Ryunosuke's spirit completely, had chosen the cruelest possible method. At a secret location, in front of young Kazama In, they had brutally raped his beloved mother, then coldly murdered her.

Even a powerful family like the Kazamas wasn't invulnerable. It had mortal enemies, and there were madmen willing to trample every boundary for the sake of revenge. That tragedy had not only stolen the warmest light in Kazama In's life, but had also forced the blood-soaked extremes of human darkness and cruelty into his young eyes and carved them deep into his soul.

Kazama Ryunosuke's voice sank, laden with profound pain and weariness. Beneath his kindly, fatherly mask lay a wound that would never heal. "That incident... struck him too deeply. He saw... hell with his own eyes. Ever since, he's become... colder, and sharper, too. He's locked away all his pain and rage, turned them into the force driving him to become stronger and more invulnerable. But he's also locked a part of himself in that hell forever. He needs to come out of it. He needs to meet different people and experience different things in an environment that seems 'normal,' even if he has to start at the very bottom... Maybe then he can feel some of that warmth that belongs to being 'human' again." He looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, his eyes full of earnest appeal. "Arisu, I know this might be an extra burden for you, but... your uncle is asking you: if you can, please look after him at that school. Not as a representative of our families, but... as a younger sister who watched him grow up."

In that moment, Sakayanagi Arisu understood everything. She understood why Kazama In had ended up in Class D, where the cold aura that clung to him came from, and why those differently colored strands at his temples seemed to symbolize the storm within him. A crushing heartache seized her—not for the power of the Kazama family, but for "big brother In," who had once fished a book out for her beneath the cherry blossoms and secretly brought her candy when she fell ill, and now carried such a heavy darkness. She could almost see his little body standing at the bloody scene, his pupils widening and losing focus from overwhelming terror and rage, all warmth and innocence utterly shattered and frozen in that instant.

"I understand, Uncle." Sakayanagi Arisu's voice was exceptionally clear, carrying the solemnity of an unquestionable promise. She straightened her frail back, and a steady, keen light shone in her violet eyes, like a star tempered in ice. "Please don't worry. I'll do everything I can." It wasn't a polite formality, but a promise from one warrior to another, both bearing deep wounds. She understood Kazama Ryunosuke's intentions, and knew even more that Kazama In's inner turmoil and pain needed to be seen, and somehow... perhaps not healed, but redirected and given a place to rest.

Her thoughts pulled away from the heavy memories, and the café's warm light came back into focus on Sakayanagi Arisu's pale face. Her fingertips were cold; even holding the warm cup of milk couldn't dispel the chill rising from deep within her. Kamuro Sumire stood silently to one side, sensing the unusual gloom emanating from her mistress.

"Sumire." Sakayanagi Arisu's voice was quiet, carrying a trace of barely perceptible fatigue.

"Yes, Sakayanagi."

"Just now... did you hear everything?"

"..." Kamuro Sumire was silent for a moment, then answered quietly, "I only heard the last few sentences about Class D and the system. I didn't hear what came before." She had observed the boundaries expected of a protector.

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't press her. She knew Kamuro Sumire's loyalty and discretion. She closed her eyes slightly, and in her mind the gentle, worried face of Kazama Ryunosuke alternated with the image of Kazama In sitting across from her moments ago. Deep in his dark eyes she had caught a hollow emptiness and suppressed violence like ten-thousand-year-old ice, though he had tried desperately to hide them.

"An intricate cage... so cold it's suffocating..." she murmured, repeating Kazama In's description of the Advanced Nurturing system. He saw through it so clearly. That very clarity came from already being trapped in a cage even colder and more brutal, woven from hatred, blood, and power. Had he entered this "ivory tower" to search for a ladder? Or to seek... a form of self-imposed exile as punishment? Or both?

"Searching for the real secrets of this school beneath the Ladder?" She recalled the question she had asked to test him.

"Whatever gets in my way, I'll 'judge' it with my own hands." Kazama In's answer had been cold and resolute, sharp enough to cut through everything.

"Judge..." Sakayanagi Arisu's fingertips curled slightly. The title, held by his father and seemingly now shadowing him as well, sounded so heavy. By "judgment," did he mean competition within the school's rules? Or... darker things, buried deeper, that might touch the shadows behind the tragedy all those years ago? Was he searching for something? Or did he sense something coming?

Her uncle's plea still rang in her ears. Look after him... How was she supposed to "look after" Kazama In, with his closed-off heart, the profound trauma he carried, and the powerful force of "judgment" at his disposal? Protect him with Class A's resources? That would only insult him. Soften him with the bonds they had shared as children? In the latter half of their conversation just now, they had tacitly set aside that warmth for the moment, revealing the edges of a strategist and "The Arbiter."

She needed to reassess the situation.

Kazama In's arrival in Class D was no coincidence or necessity. It was likely part of Kazama Ryunosuke's plan, perhaps even Kazama In's own choice. Starting at the very bottom, observing the chaos, finding a way through adversity—that suited Kazama In's temperament and fit his explanation that he needed to "experience the Ladder." But what was the deeper purpose? To hone himself? To stay hidden? Or... to make it easier to "judge" certain targets lurking in the school's shadows? Did Advanced Nurturing High School, an academy that seemed to cultivate elites, have countless ties to those forces entrenched in the dark? Had the organization behind the tragedy targeting the Kazama family left traces somewhere in this school?

A thought flashed through Sakayanagi Arisu's mind like lightning, making her violet pupils contract sharply. Had Kazama Ryunosuke arranged for Kazama In to enter this school for more than just a "change of environment"? Could it be that... the school itself held clues related to the incident? Or was this the starting point of some "Ladder"? Had Kazama In's words about "searching for the real secrets beneath the Ladder" carried a hidden meaning?

A familiar, suffocating pain suddenly gripped her heart. Sakayanagi Arisu's body tensed at once, her face turning even paler and more translucent as fine beads of cold sweat formed at her temples. The violent rush of emotion and the strain of thinking so deeply about a complicated situation had finally provoked her body's protest.

"Sakayanagi!" Kamuro Sumire noticed immediately. She rushed forward with lightning speed, one hand steadying her shoulder while the other reached into her small bag and pulled out a delicate pill case.

Sakayanagi Arisu bit her lower lip, struggling to steady her breathing and suppress the wave of discomfort crashing through her. She didn't try to tough it out; she simply raised a hand with difficulty. Kamuro Sumire quickly tipped two fast-acting pills into her palm and passed them to her, then picked up the warm honey milk on the table and carefully helped her take them.

The bitter taste of the medicine was somewhat eased by the sweet milk. Only after a long while did the severe pain slowly subside like the ebbing tide. Sakayanagi Arisu leaned back against the sofa, breathing faintly. Her eyes were closed, and her long lashes cast fragile shadows across her pale skin.

"I'm all right now, Sumire." Her voice was slightly hoarse with weakness.

Kamuro Sumire pressed her lips together. Her face plainly showed her disapproval and concern, but she said nothing. She simply stood by her, silent and steadfast as a mountain.

Her physical pain eased a little, but the turmoil in her heart only grew. Kazama In's situation was more complicated and dangerous than she had expected. He had to struggle his way up through the mire of Class D and face the school's cold, harsh rules. On top of that, he carried a dark past and possible obsession with revenge, enough to crush an ordinary person. He was like a blade honed to excess, unmatched in sharpness, yet liable at any moment to break beneath its own weight—or to wound innocent people, even... himself, while cutting down his target.

Her uncle's request now seemed so weighty. The "looking after" she had promised was far more than simple protection. She needed to be his opponent on the chessboard, an ally who could understand his darkness, and, at a crucial moment, the hand capable of stopping his "Blade of Judgment" from slipping out of control.

Because Kazama In was here—and because Sakayanagi Arisu now understood the situation so clearly—the undercurrents beneath this school's stage of "meritocracy" instantly seemed deeper and more dangerous. This was no longer merely a contest between classes for points. It was a complicated game between two souls burdened with painful pasts, played in a maze of rules and secrets, with redemption, revenge, and a final "judgment" at stake.

Sakayanagi Arisu slowly opened her eyes. All the fragility and pain had been drawn away from the depths of her violet gaze, replaced by a light that was sharper, colder, and more resolute. She gently moved aside from Kamuro Sumire's support and sat upright on her own, her posture once again graced by her usual elegance and control.

"Let's go back, Sumire." Her voice had regained its calm, carrying a decisiveness that brooked no argument.

"Yes." Kamuro Sumire replied and immediately began making preparations.

Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze swept one last time over the place where Kazama In had sat. It seemed as if his calm, cold presence still lingered there. She lifted the cup of honey milk, now gone lukewarm, and drank the last of it, its taste tinged with medicine. The warm liquid slid down her throat, but couldn't dispel the chill in her heart entirely.

She stood, and Kamuro Sumire promptly moved to her side. The moment she settled back into her wheelchair, the fragile-looking girl who had briefly stood before Kazama In disappeared. The absolute queen of Class A had returned, silver hair like snow, violet eyes like an abyss.

"Also," Sakayanagi Arisu said in the quiet café, her voice clear and composed, "from now on, I want every detail you can find about Kazama In in Class D. Who he's met, what he's said, what he's done—anything unusual, no matter how trivial." Her gaze turned toward the dark night beyond the window, as though she could see through the darkness to the figure returning to the Class D dormitory. "Especially whether he's reaching out to people connected to any particular 'organizations,' or whether he's attracting their attention." She emphasized the word "organizations," leaving its meaning obvious.

Understanding flashed through Kamuro Sumire's eyes. She lowered her head and answered solemnly, "Understood. I'll see to it."

"And," Sakayanagi Arisu continued after a pause, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of her wheelchair with a faint sound, "keep an eye out for any 'unusual' incidents that might occur in Class D in the near future. No matter how minor."

She had a feeling Kazama In's path up the "Ladder" would never be peaceful. His arrival alone was a boulder thrown into the seemingly still waters of the school. Ripples would appear soon. She had to take up the most advantageous position, where she could see every ripple, as well as... the reefs and whirlpools concealed beneath them.

The night wind swept through the open door, bringing a trace of chill. Kamuro Sumire pushed the wheelchair steadily out of the café. Sakayanagi Arisu leaned back and tilted her head slightly toward the full moon hanging high in the night sky. Its light was cold, like the layer of ice in the depths of Kazama In's eyes that refused to melt.

Big brother In... she whispered silently in her heart. This time, let's see where this "meritocratic" Ladder ultimately leads. And the "obstacles" in your way... before judgment falls, I'll see their true nature first.

The café lights went out behind them, as if the meeting, woven from warmth and probing, memories and pain, had never happened. But the people involved knew that beneath the calm school life, an undercurrent woven from the shadows of the past and the games of the future was already surging. Kazama In's "judgment," Sakayanagi Arisu's "insight," and the "secrets" hidden within the school were about to collide in this cage of Advanced Nurturing, sparking an unpredictable fire.