The Eye of the Storm

The standoff on the rooftop was like a stone cast into a calm pond, the ripples spreading silently outward.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka—or rather, Yang Ye, who now occupied this body—walked quietly back to the dormitory. The evening breeze brushed through the cherry blossom trees lining the campus path, creating a soft, rustling sound.

The ability [Insight (Basic)] was quietly taking effect.

He found himself more keenly aware of the details in his surroundings: the rhythmic footsteps of the soccer club members training on the distant field, a fleeting shadow behind a window on the third floor of the teaching building, and even the subtle differences in the scents wafting from the various cafeteria windows.

More importantly, he began to instinctively analyze the meaning behind this information.

The shadow on the third floor was positioned perfectly to overlook the rooftop entrance.

Was it a coincidence, or had someone become interested in what had just transpired?

"Interesting," he muttered to himself.

Returning to his dormitory room and closing the door, the minimalist style belonging to the original owner greeted him. A bed, a desk, a wardrobe—there were almost no personal belongings.

Yang Ye walked to the mirror, looking at the face that was both familiar and strange—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's signature indifferent expression, slightly messy short black hair, and those eyes devoid of emotional fluctuation.

"From now on, I am both Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Yang Ye," he said to his reflection. "In this world where 'ability' is the only standard of measurement, the system has given me the key to break the balance."

He clenched his fist, feeling the power flowing through his body, far exceeding that of an ordinary high school student. [Combat Mastery (Master Level)] was not just a collection of knowledge; it felt like an innate instinct. If he were to face the so-called "strongest in school," Albert, right now, he was confident he could end the fight within ten moves.

But that was not what he wanted.

"Advanced Nurturing High School... private points, class points, the privileges of Class A, and the people pulling the strings from behind the scenes." Yang Ye sat on the bed, beginning to organize his thoughts. "The original Ayanokoji sought to keep a low profile, but now that I have the system, my goals can perhaps be a bit bolder."

[Ding! Detected that the host has completed their first display of power; campus influence has slightly increased. Long-term mission activated: Climb to the Peak.]

[Mission Description: Lead your class to ascend to Class A before graduation. Mission Progress: Class D (0/100)]

[Phase Goal: Ensure no one in the class drops out during the upcoming midterm exams. Mission Reward: Distributed based on completion.]

The system's prompts were always so timely.

Midterm exams... Yang Ye recalled the original plot. It wasn't just an exam; it was the first time Class D faced a true crisis—the high threshold set by Sae Chabashira, and the internal division caused by the potential expulsion of those who failed.

"The original Ayanokoji solved the problem through behind-the-scenes manipulation, but now..." Yang Ye revealed a faint smile, "perhaps I can be more direct."

The next morning, in the classroom.

When Ayanokoji Kiyotaka walked into the classroom two minutes before the preparatory bell, as he usually did, he could clearly feel that the atmosphere was different.

Many gazes fell upon him—curious, probing, vigilant. The confession that had shocked the entire class yesterday and his brief "private conversation" with Kushida Kikyo had already become the hottest unsolved mystery in Class D.

Yosuke Hirata, one of the core figures of the class, walked over with his signature gentle smile: "Good morning, Ayanokoji-kun."

"Good morning, Hirata."

"About that..." Hirata hesitated slightly, "regarding what happened yesterday, if there are any misunderstandings or if you need help mediating, please let me know at any time. As a member of this class, I hope we can all get along."

A typical Hirata-style statement, full of responsibility and goodwill. But through [Insight (Basic)], Yang Ye noticed a trace of worry hidden deep in Hirata's eyes—he was afraid that the harmony of the class would be broken.

"There is no misunderstanding," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka replied in his usual flat tone. "It was just a personal matter; it won't affect the class."

"I see... that's good." Hirata seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, smiling as he patted his shoulder. "If you have any difficulties with your studies or daily life, please be sure to tell me."

Another gaze came from the window seat in the back row.

Suzune Horikita, that aloof and stubborn girl, was looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

When she realized Ayanokoji was looking back, she didn't look away; instead, she frowned slightly, as if evaluating an incomprehensible object.

Yang Ye understood. In Horikita's value system, the "frivolous" behavior from yesterday was incomprehensible. She likely thought Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was an idiot blinded by hormones—if not for the abnormal physical fitness he had occasionally displayed in gym class, she probably would have already categorized him as a "worthless existence."

He walked to his seat, sat down, and took out his textbook, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Then, he felt a particular gaze.

It came from the seat to his front right: Kushida Kikyo.

She was chatting and laughing with several girls, her voice sweet and her expression radiant, having completely returned to her "angel mode." But when she occasionally turned her head and her gaze swept over Ayanokoji, Yang Ye could capture the complexity in that instant—apprehension, suspicion, and a trace of... unwillingness?

[Insight (Basic)] allowed him to see more: the fingers holding her pen tightened slightly; when she laughed, the curve of her mouth was higher than usual; and while she discussed fashion magazines with the girls, her eyes occasionally drifted toward Ken Sudo in the back of the classroom—that hot-tempered but athletically gifted troublemaker.

"She is gathering information on Sudo..." Yang Ye understood instantly. "Is she preparing to use him as her next target, or...?"

The Kushida Kikyo of the original story would stop at nothing to approach and use various people to maintain her "popularity" and obtain information. A type like Sudo, simple-minded and easy to control, was indeed her ideal target.

However, all of this had nothing to do with him for the time being.

The morning classes proceeded as scheduled. During math class, Sae Chabashira explained complex function problems, her gaze occasionally sweeping across the class, lingering briefly on a few key students—Suzune Horikita, Yosuke Hirata, Koenji Rokusuke... and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

When she saw Ayanokoji, a trace of imperceptible interest flashed in her eyes.

During the break, the system notification sounded again:

[Ding! Detected the attention of special character "Sae Chabashira"; triggered random mission: Prove Your Worth.]

[Mission Requirement: Achieve a perfect score on the next math quiz.]

[Mission Reward: Memory Enhancement (Basic)]

[Failure Penalty: Randomly deduct one attribute point.]

A math quiz? Yang Ye recalled the course schedule; indeed, Chabashira-sensei liked to use sudden quizzes to test the students' true levels. In the original story, Ayanokoji had always deliberately controlled his scores to maintain a mid-range level.

"But things are different now." Yang Ye looked out the window. "Since I want to change, let's start with these small things."

During the lunch break, while most students headed to the cafeteria, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka walked toward the library instead.

This was no random choice. Through [Insight (Basic)], he had noticed that since the morning, more than one person had been observing him from the shadows—aside from his own classmates, there seemed to be individuals from other classes as well.

Did Kushida spread some kind of rumor, or did yesterday's farce simply draw attention? he pondered, his footsteps never faltering.

The library was quiet, with only a scattering of students looking up information. He walked to the philosophy section, pulled out a work by Nietzsche at random, and sat down by the window.

Five minutes later, a figure sat down in the seat opposite him.

"What a surprise, Ayanokoji-kun actually coming to the library." Kei Karuizawa, a girl with significant influence among the female students of Class D, wore a social smile on her face. "Are you preparing for something?"