Undercurrents Surge

"Just wanted to chat." Kei Karuizawa rested her chin on her hand. "You seemed to finish the math quiz really early today? I noticed you put your pen down after twenty minutes."

A keen observation. Yang Ye felt a surge of vigilance, though he remained calm on the surface. "The questions weren't that difficult."

"Is that so?" Kei Karuizawa smiled. "But for most of us, it wasn't exactly simple. Especially Sudo-kun... I heard he almost failed, but it seems he passed in the end?"

Her eyes were fixed on Ayanokoji, trying to catch any subtle change in his expression.

"Everyone has their own pace of learning." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka deflected the question.

"Fair enough." Kei Karuizawa didn't press further and changed the subject. "By the way, have you heard? Class C has been gathering intelligence on other classes lately, especially regarding 'students with special talents'."

This news stirred something within Yang Ye. Class C... Kakeru Ryuen's class. Had that ruler, who loved to use violence and threats to control everything, already begun his move?

"Where did you hear that?"

"Rumors among the girls." Kei Karuizawa shrugged. "You know how it is—the locker rooms, the restrooms... information travels much faster in those places than boys could ever imagine."

She stood up. "Anyway, be careful. If Class C really is collecting intel, someone like you who suddenly started performing well is very likely to become a target."

"Why tell me this?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked.

Kei Karuizawa turned back before leaving and gave him a complex smile. "Because I feel that in this class, having one more strong person is better than having one more enemy. And..."

She paused. "I hate the feeling of being threatened. If Class C really intends to do something, we need someone capable of standing up to them."

With that, she left the library.

Yang Ye remained silent for a moment and opened the system interface.

"Query current class strength assessment."

[Assessing...]

[Class D overall strength rating: 62/100 (Class ranking: 4/4)]

[Key advantages: Yosuke Hirata (leadership), Suzune Horikita (academic ability), Ayanokoji Kiyotaka (hidden strength)]

[Key weaknesses: Ken Sudo (disciplinary issues), Kanji Ike (academic difficulties), Haruki Yamauchi (lackadaisical attitude)]

[Potential threats: Class C intelligence gathering activities (detecting), Kikyo Kushida (potential factor for disrupting class cohesion)]

As expected, Class D was still at the bottom. Even with his intervention, the overall situation couldn't be changed in such a short time.

But... perhaps there was no need to change the whole.

He looked at the newly acquired "Strategy Points" on the system interface, and a plan began to take shape in his mind.

The rules of the game at Advanced Nurturing High School were cruel—class points determined resource allocation, and personal points determined quality of life. To increase class points, one had to win in various exams and activities.

However, the original Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had chosen a more circuitous path: not directly elevating the class, but achieving a relative advantage by weakening the other classes.

"Now that I have the system, perhaps I can try a different strategy." Yang Ye pondered. "Instead of passive defense or secret manipulation, I could actively build... a 'core circle'."

Yosuke Hirata's cohesion, Suzune Horikita's combativeness, Kei Karuizawa's intelligence network, and even Ken Sudo's athletic ability... if these scattered strengths were integrated effectively, Class D might truly be able to create a miracle.

[Ding! Detected that the host has formulated a long-term strategic plan, triggering mission: Establishment of the Core Circle.]

[Mission Description: Within two weeks, establish solid cooperative relationships with at least three classmates who possess key abilities.]

[Mission Requirements: The cooperative relationship must be based on mutual recognition, not threats or exploitation.]

[Mission Reward: Based on the depth of cooperation and the quality of members, reward 'Charisma' (Beginner) and related attribute boosts.]

The system's prompt was once again in sync with his thoughts.

The sky grew dark, and the library lights flickered on automatically. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka packed his bag and walked out of the library.

On the way back to the dormitory, he encountered an unexpected person.

Suzune Horikita stood under a cherry blossom tree by the path, seemingly waiting for him on purpose. The afterglow of the sunset cast a warm hue over her cold features, but her eyes remained like ice.

"Ayanokoji-kun." She got straight to the point. "I have something to ask you."

"Please, go ahead."

"You finished the math quiz twenty minutes early today." She stared directly into his eyes. "Given your past performance, that is not reasonable."

"People always improve."

"Improvement doesn't happen so abruptly." Suzune Horikita stepped forward, close enough that they could feel each other's breath. "I've looked into you—or more accurately, I tried to. But your past is almost a complete blank, which is impossible at Advanced Nurturing High School."

Her voice lowered. "Who are you? And what is your true purpose?"

Yang Ye looked at the unquestionable determination in her eyes and knew that simple prevarication would no longer work. Suzune Horikita might be stubborn, but she was certainly not stupid.

"I am Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, a student of Class D." He replied calmly. "As for my purpose... just like you, I only want to survive in this school, nothing more."

"Survive?" Suzune Horikita sneered. "With the strength you've been hiding, 'surviving' is a bit too modest."

"Then what do you think I should do?" Ayanokoji countered. "Publicly declare that I will lead Class D to Class A, like you, and then become a target for everyone?"

Suzune Horikita's pupils contracted slightly.

"How did you know..."

"It's not hard to deduce." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said. "You refuse Hirata's help, study alone, and show contempt for all social activities... these behaviors have only one explanation: you believe the people around you are a burden, and you believe you can change everything on your own."

He paused. "But the reality is, that's impossible. Every aspect of Advanced Nurturing High School is designed to emphasize the 'collective'. The power of one person alone is, in the end, limited."

Suzune Horikita fell silent. After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible wavering: "So, what is your suggestion?"

"I have no suggestions for the time being," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said. "I am merely stating the facts. As for which path to choose, that is your own business."

He prepared to leave, but Suzune Horikita called out to him.

"Wait." She bit her lip, seemingly making a difficult decision. "If... if I need a collaborator, would you consider it?"

For her, this sentence was almost equivalent to admitting her own inadequacies.

Yang Ye turned around, looking at this proud young girl. The sunset had completely dipped below the horizon, and the campus streetlights flickered on one by one.

"That depends on what kind of collaboration it is," he said. "And whether you are truly prepared... to fight side by side with the 'dead weight'."

He did not wait for an answer and turned to walk toward the dormitory.

Behind him, Suzune Horikita stood where she was, her shadow stretching long under the streetlights.

And on the top floor of the school building in the distance, a figure was observing this scene through binoculars.

Kakeru Ryuen lowered the binoculars, revealing a ferocious grin.

"Found it... the 'anomaly' of Class D. The game is finally going to get interesting."

Behind him, several students from Class C stood quietly, like soldiers waiting for orders.

Night had completely shrouded Advanced Nurturing High School.

Beneath the calm surface, a new storm was brewing.

And as the one at the eye of the storm, how would Ayanokoji Kiyotaka respond to the gazes and challenges from all sides?

Only time could provide the answer.