Sakayanagi's Declaration of War

Wu Qiao lowered his head to look at the frozen image on his digital camera screen and smiled. He had found the perfect definition for his photography hobby: a recorder of life. Capturing all sorts of interesting scenes was a rare pastime for him in this school filled with schemes.

Of course, "interesting scenes" were few and far between at this Advanced Nurturing High School. If you were lucky, you might stumble upon an important occasion; if you were unlucky, you might spend days capturing nothing but dull, daily routines.

After school, Wu Qiao had wandered the campus taking random shots with mediocre results. As he headed toward the library with his camera slung over his shoulder, he passed the well-equipped gym and his footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Through the bright floor-to-ceiling glass windows, he caught sight of someone who absolutely should not have been there—Sakayanagi Arisu.

Watching Sakayanagi Arisu sitting quietly in the gym's lounge area, her cane resting in her hand, the corner of Wu Qiao's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

This girl... working out?

What was a frail girl with a congenital heart condition, one strictly forbidden by doctors from engaging in strenuous exercise, doing in a gym? Was she here to breathe fresh air while watching others sweat?

Just as Wu Qiao intended to pretend he hadn't seen her and take a detour, the glass door was pushed open.

Kamuro Masumi walked out expressionlessly, blocking Wu Qiao's path directly to convey Sakayanagi's "invitation."

With no other choice, Wu Qiao put away his camera and followed Kamuro Masumi into the gym.

The air conditioning in the gym was set quite low. Sakayanagi Arisu was sitting on a bench, her short silver hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, looking like an exquisite, fragile porcelain doll.

Seeing Wu Qiao enter, she lifted her head slightly, a kind and amiable smile appearing on her fair, lovely face, as if she were truly hosting an old friend.

"What can I do for you, Lady Sakayanagi?" Wu Qiao stood before her, his tone revealing undisguised impatience. "I have personal matters to attend to; I don't have time to play house with you."

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't mind his rudeness. She simply tapped the floor gently with her cane and said in a leisurely tone, "Your so-called personal matters are nothing more than wandering aimlessly around this school or reading those vacuous books in the library. Besides, your Class D study session hasn't started yet, so what are you in such a rush for?"

Wu Qiao narrowed his eyes slightly; this woman even had a clear grasp of his class's movements. He didn't refute her, instead raising his digital camera and pressing the shutter at Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't even blink, maintaining that composed smile.

Wu Qiao hung the camera around his neck and sat on the chair opposite her, crossing his hands over his knees and staring directly into her eyes, which seemed capable of piercing through one's heart. "If you want to ask about Ayanokoji Kiyoha, I'm sorry, but allow me to be blunt: she won't fight you. You're purely wasting your time."

"Oh?" Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled, the sound crisp and pleasant, yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness. "As long as you lose in the exams, she will have no choice but to step into the light, won't she? What I am waiting for is the moment she is forced to bare her fangs."

Watching Sakayanagi Arisu's determined expression, Wu Qiao felt as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum, insisting on getting a specific toy. He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a hint of condescension. "Win against me first. If you can't even beat me, what are you going to use to force her to show herself?"

Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head slightly, a flash of confusion crossing her eyes. "Are you that confident? You don't actually think that the rabble of Class D can block the offensive of Class A, do you?"

"It's not confidence; it's just stating facts." Wu Qiao looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "It's a pity, but Lady Sakayanagi, having lived such a pampered life, is probably not familiar with many underhanded tactics, right?"

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face stiffened slightly. Although it was only for an instant, Wu Qiao caught it.

"What do you mean?" Her voice turned cold.

"I mean that you are accustomed to being high above, accustomed to crushing your opponents with absolute strength and intellect, but you don't understand the survival laws of rolling in the mud." Wu Qiao spoke without reservation. "Class D is not Class A. Our way of thinking and our perspectives can lead to things a young lady like you wouldn't even dare to imagine. You treat me as a stepping stone for Ayanokoji, but have you ever considered that before you force me into a dead end, you might already have your throat bitten out by me from the shadows?"

Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent. She watched Wu Qiao quietly, and for the first time, her eyes, which always carried a smile, revealed a look of serious scrutiny. She realized that the boy before her was different from all the opponents she had encountered before.

He didn't have the unfathomable nature of Ayanokoji Kiyoha; he was like a lone wolf raised in the wilderness, exuding a kind of ruthlessness that would tear anything apart for the sake of survival.

"Interesting..." Sakayanagi Arisu whispered. She smiled, but this time, it wasn't the amiable disguise; it was the excitement of a genius girl encountering a true rival.

"Student Wu Qiao, you have successfully piqued my interest." She stood up slowly, using her cane to support herself on the ground. "Since you are so confident, let me see just how far you, this lone wolf in the mud, can struggle."

Wu Qiao stood up, brushed the dust off his pants, and turned to walk toward the door. When he reached the entrance, he stopped without looking back and said faintly, "I'm at your disposal anytime. But next time you want to find me, remember to pick a different place; the gym doesn't suit you."

The glass door closed slowly behind him. Sakayanagi Arisu stood where she was, watching Wu Qiao's departing back, the light in her eyes growing ever brighter.

"Underhanded tactics, is it..." she muttered to herself. "Then let me see if your methods are truly worthy of your arrogance."

Pushing open the library door, Wu Qiao took a deep breath. The air was filled with the unique scent of old paper mixed with ink, instantly soothing his previously tense nerves.

His gaze swept across the quiet reading area, and he quickly locked onto that familiar figure.

Shiina Hiyori was sitting in a corner by the window, her long silver hair draped smoothly over her shoulders. She exuded a light, soft atmosphere, as if she were separated from the surrounding world by a transparent barrier.

At this moment, she was looking down, focused intently on a thick, hardbound book in her hands. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her fair cheeks, and even the sound of Wu Qiao's approaching footsteps failed to bring her back to reality.

Wu Qiao didn't make a sound to disturb her; instead, he pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down gently.

Seeming to notice the change in light across from her, Shiina Hiyori looked up as if waking from a dream. Seeing it was Wu Qiao, a faint, imperceptible glimmer flashed in her purple eyes, and a serene smile appeared on her otherwise expressionless face.

"Good afternoon, Wu-kun." Her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the library.

"Good afternoon." Wu Qiao placed his camera on the table, rested his chin on his crossed hands, and asked, "I finished reading Whose Corpse? that you recommended last time. The deductive logic was very rigorous; it didn't disappoint me."

Hearing her recommendation being affirmed, Shiina Hiyori's eyes narrowed slightly, like a cat being stroked, revealing an undisguised happiness. She gently closed the book in her hand, leaned forward slightly, and her tone took on a rare, genuine enthusiasm. "That's great. I was worried you might find the pace of that classical detective fiction too slow. Since you like this style..."

She paused, her gaze shifting to the rows of towering bookshelves behind her, as if quickly searching for suitable titles in her mind.

"Hmm... let me think." Shiina Hiyori whispered, then stood up and walked to the nearby bookshelf. Her gaze swept quickly over the spines, and soon, a fair, slender hand stopped on a book with a deep blue cover.

She pulled the book out, walked back to her seat, and gently handed it to Wu Qiao.

"This book, The Human Chair, is a short story collection by Edogawa Ranpo. It contains several very classic, grotesque detective stories. Although it doesn't focus on logical deduction like the Lord Peter series, Ranpo-sensei has an extremely unique charm in creating atmosphere and depicting the dark side of human psychology. I think, given your reading taste, you should like this kind of prose that carries a touch of the eerie and suspenseful."

Wu Qiao took the book, his fingertips touching the cool cover. He looked at Shiina Hiyori's expectant eyes and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

"That sounds great. I'll borrow this one, then." Wu Qiao put the book away and looked at her. "If you have any other good books next time, please continue to recommend them to me."

"Mm, no problem." Shiina Hiyori nodded gently, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.

Watching her satisfied expression, Wu Qiao's mind suddenly flashed back to his conversation with Sakayanagi Arisu in the gym earlier.

On one side was a genius girl full of schemes and hostility; on the other was a quiet girl who only cared about books and reading. This Advanced Nurturing High School really did gather all sorts of extreme people together.

"Shiina," Wu Qiao said suddenly, his tone becoming somewhat serious. "If you run into any trouble in the future, or if anyone gives you a hard time because of inter-class disputes, you can come to me."

Shiina Hiyori was stunned, not expecting him to say this suddenly. Although she didn't understand why he was suddenly so serious, she nodded obediently. "Mm... I understand. Thank you, Wu-kun."

Wu Qiao nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He stood up, hung his camera back around his neck, and waved at Shiina Hiyori. "I'll head back now. I won't disturb your reading."

"Mm, goodbye, Wu-kun." Shiina Hiyori responded softly, watching Wu Qiao's back disappear at the end of the bookshelf before she lowered her head again and opened the pages of her book.