"I just wanted to chat." Kei Karuizawa rested her chin on her hand. "We had a math quiz today. You seemed to finish really early, didn't you? I noticed you put your pencil down after only twenty minutes."
She was very observant. Yang Ye grew wary but kept his expression calm. "The questions weren't that difficult."
"Is that so?" Kei Karuizawa smiled. "They weren't easy for most of us, though. Especially Sudō... I heard he nearly failed, but somehow managed to pass in the end?"
Her eyes stayed fixed on Ayanokoji, trying to catch even the slightest change in his expression.
"Everyone has their own pace when it comes to studying," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said, neatly sidestepping the question.
"True." Kei Karuizawa didn't press him further, changing the subject instead. "By the way, have you heard? Class C has been gathering information about the different classes lately, especially about students with 'special talents.'"
The news caught Yang Ye's attention. Class C... Ryuen Kakeru's class. Had that ruler, who liked to control everything through violence and threats, already started making his move?
"Where did you hear that?"
"Rumors among the girls." Kei Karuizawa shrugged. "You know, locker rooms, bathrooms... Information spreads a lot faster in places like those than boys imagine."
She stood up. "Anyway, be careful. If Class C really is gathering information, someone like you, who's suddenly started standing out, could easily become a target."
"Why tell me this?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked.
Kei Karuizawa looked back before leaving, giving him a complicated smile. "Because I think that in this class, having one more strong person is better than having one more enemy. And besides..."
She paused. "I hate being threatened. If Class C really is planning something, we need someone who can stand up to them."
With that, she left the library.
Yang Ye was silent for a moment, then opened the System Interface.
"Assess the current strength of my class."
[Assessing...]
[Class D overall strength rating: 62/100 (class ranking: 4/4)]
[Key strengths: Yosuke Hirata (leadership), Suzune Horikita (academic ability), Ayanokoji Kiyotaka (hidden strength)]
[Key weaknesses: Ken Sudō (disciplinary problems), Kanji Ike (academic difficulties), Haruki Yamauchi (lax attitude)]
[Potential threats: Class C information-gathering activities (under assessment), Kushida Kikyo (potential threat to class cohesion)]
As expected, Class D was still at the bottom. Even with his involvement, the overall situation couldn't be changed in such a short time.
But... perhaps he didn't need to change everything.
He looked at the newly acquired "Strategy Points" on the System Interface, and a plan gradually took shape in his mind.
The rules at Advanced Nurturing High School were cruel—Class Points determined how resources were allocated, while Personal Points determined one's quality of life. To raise a class's points, they had to win various exams and activities.
But Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in the original story had chosen a more roundabout path: rather than directly improving his class, he gained a relative advantage by weakening the others.
"Now that I have the system, maybe I can try a different strategy." Yang Ye pondered. "Instead of passively defending or manipulating things from the shadows, I can take the initiative and build... a 'core circle.'"
Yosuke Hirata's ability to unite people, Suzune Horikita's combat ability, Kei Karuizawa's information network, even Ken Sudō's athletic ability... If he could effectively bring these scattered strengths together, Class D might actually achieve a miracle.
[Ding! The host has developed a long-term strategic plan. Mission triggered: Build a Core Circle.]
[Mission description: Establish stable cooperative relationships with at least three classmates who possess key abilities within two weeks.]
[Mission requirements: Cooperative relationships must be based on mutual recognition, not threats or exploitation.]
[Mission rewards: Based on the depth of cooperation and the quality of members, receive "Leader's Charisma" (beginner level) and improvements to related attributes.]
Once again, the system's prompt aligned with his thoughts.
Dusk fell, and the library lights came on automatically. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka packed his bag and left the library.
On his way back to the dorms, he ran into someone unexpected.
Suzune Horikita was standing beneath a cherry tree by the roadside, apparently waiting for him. The setting sun cast a warm glow over her cool features, but her gaze remained icy.
"Ayanokoji," she said without preamble. "I have a question for you."
"Go ahead."
"You finished the math quiz twenty minutes early today." She looked him straight in the eyes. "That doesn't fit with your past performance."
"People improve."
"Not so abruptly." Suzune Horikita stepped closer, near enough that they could feel each other's breath. "I looked into you—or, more accurately, I tried to. But your past is almost completely blank. That's impossible at Advanced Nurturing High School."
Her voice dropped. "Who are you? What's your real goal?"
Yang Ye met the unwavering determination in her eyes and knew a simple excuse wouldn't work. Suzune Horikita might be stubborn, but she wasn't foolish.
"I'm Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, a student in Class D," he answered calmly. "As for my goal... it's the same as yours. I just want to survive at this school. That's all."
"Survive?" Suzune Horikita sneered. "With the strength you're hiding, calling it 'survival' is far too modest."
"Then what do you think I should do?" Ayanokoji countered. "Announce publicly, like you, that I'm going to lead Class D to Class A, and make myself a target for everyone?"
Suzune Horikita's pupils contracted slightly.
"How do you know...?"
"It's not hard to figure out," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said. "You turned down Hirata's help, study alone, and show contempt for every social activity... There's only one explanation: you think everyone around you is a burden, and believe you can change everything on your own."
He paused. "But the reality is, that's impossible. Every part of Advanced Nurturing High School is designed to emphasize the 'collective.' The strength of a person alone is ultimately limited."
Suzune Horikita fell silent. It was a long while before she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of wavering she could barely conceal. "So what do you suggest?"
"I'm not making a suggestion for now," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said. "I'm just stating a fact. Which path you choose is up to you."
He was about to leave, but Suzune Horikita called after him.
"Wait." She bit her lip, seeming to struggle with a difficult decision. "If... if I needed a partner, would you consider it?"
For her, those words were almost an admission that she had shortcomings.
Yang Ye turned around and looked at the proud girl. The sun had disappeared completely below the horizon, and the campus streetlights were coming on one by one.
"That depends on what kind of partnership you mean," he said, "and whether you're really ready to fight alongside the 'burdens.'"
He didn't wait for an answer. Turning away, he headed for the dorms.
Behind him, Suzune Horikita stood where she was, her shadow stretching long beneath the streetlight.
On the top floor of the school building in the distance, someone was watching the scene through binoculars.
Ryuen Kakeru lowered the binoculars and grinned savagely.
"Found it... Class D's 'outlier.' The game's finally getting interesting."
Behind him, several Class C students stood silently, like soldiers awaiting orders.
Night completely enveloped Advanced Nurturing High School.
Beneath the calm surface, a new storm was brewing.
And how would Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, at the eye of the storm, deal with the gazes and challenges coming from every direction?
Only time would tell.
Before you continue