Testing Hoshinomiya

Throughout the first year, there was no one Ryuuen did not know, but no one who did not know Ryuuen either. His notoriety had spread far and wide.

It was no surprise that Ryuuen knew Hoshinomiya. She was a beautiful teacher with the same hair color as him, so it was only natural that he paid her occasional attention. Perhaps he could even find a breakthrough for crushing Class B through her.

Although Ryuuen was reading, he kept a close eye on Hoshinomiya's movements. She had not come here to read. Like him, she had randomly picked out a book. Though her eyes were fixed on the pages, she never turned them. There was no concentration in her gaze, only distraction.

She was anxious. Ryuuen reached that conclusion.

In the entire school, the only things this teacher could care about were Class B and Chabashira. Since the Special Exam had not begun yet, Class B could be ruled out. That meant the issue was Chabashira.

Though Hoshinomiya had tried hard to appear calm when she entered, the tension in her leg muscles told Ryuuen that she had jogged in. In other words, she had most likely come into this room by chance while avoiding someone—and that person was very likely Chabashira.

Chabashira was nearby!

At this time, Chabashira should have approached Ayanokoji. Pressured by Ayanokoji's father, Ayanokoji would show his value in this exam.

Since Hoshinomiya had not come to read, Ryuuen saw no reason to keep watching her put on an act. "Hoshinomiya-sensei, you don't seem to like reading much. Why not chat about Class B instead?"

"You're trying to pry information out of me, Ryuuen-sensei? I'm not going to tell you anything. Besides, you're the one who doesn't like reading, aren't you? Ever since I came in, your eyes haven't left me." Hoshinomiya placed her book face-down on the table, crossed her legs, and examined Ryuuen while doing her best to look stern.

Ryuuen smiled and gently closed his book as well. "I don't know whether I like reading or not, but I definitely like beautiful women. They say books contain beautiful maidens, but when one is right in front of me, why would I look for her in a book?"

Hoshinomiya cupped her face in both hands and pretended to be shy. "As for beautiful women, Ryuuen, you should focus on girls your own age. This teacher already has someone in her heart."

Ryuuen sneered. Someone in her heart? Who, Chabashira? What was so fun about grinding tofu?

On the surface, however, he looked regretful. "What a shame. I was actually interested in Ichinose Honami, but since Hoshinomiya-sensei doesn't want to discuss Class B with me, I suppose I'll have to study her myself."

Hoshinomiya frowned. "I know Ichinose is a good girl, and she has a high reputation among the boys, but she isn't right for you. Besides, aren't you pursuing Horikita Suzune? Being fickle isn't good, Ryuuen-sensei."

"Huh? How did you know I was pursuing Horikita?" It was a lie from Ryuuen, merely a test for Hoshinomiya.

"Ahahaha, everyone in the grade knows about that. Isn't it normal for me to know too?"

It seemed flawless, but Ryuuen noticed a problem. Why had the rumor that he was pursuing Horikita spread through the grade? Why had Horikita not clarified things with the people in Class D? Instead, she seemed rather pleased by the rumor.

Some girls liked showing off that outstanding boys were pursuing them, satisfying their vanity that way. But Horikita was clearly not that sort of person. Someone had to be fanning the flames behind this. Who could it be?

"Horikita is a good girl. As long as you pursue her wholeheartedly, you'll definitely win her heart." Seeing Ryuuen lost in thought, Hoshinomiya assumed he was still eyeing Ichinose and spoke up to remind him again.

It seemed Hoshinomiya did not want Ryuuen setting his sights on Ichinose.

"But sensei, my heart has been broken. It shattered into many pieces, and every piece fell in love with a different person." Ryuuen raised a brow. Hoshinomiya's mouth was sealed too tightly; he could not get even a scrap of useful information from her.

What a scumbag. What a shameless thing to say. Hoshinomiya labeled Ryuuen a scumbag in her heart, making it even more impossible for her to let him get close to Ichinose.

"Then you're quite the philanthropist."

Hoshinomiya intended to leave, but Ryuuen was still somewhat annoyed at having learned nothing useful, so he decided to tease her.

"Yes. Just now, one fragment of my heart was branded with Hoshinomiya-sensei's mark. What do you think I should do, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

"Flirting with a teacher will get points deducted." Hoshinomiya's expression turned hostile.

"That's fine. They're only a few points. If I can win sensei's heart, I wouldn't mind losing more."

"Hmph. You're all smooth talk and not a word of it is true. Ryuuen, go use your sweet talk to fool younger girls. This teacher has no interest in chatting with you. I'm leaving."

Her little leather shoes clicked across the wooden floor.

"How heartless, Hoshinomiya-sensei. Then I suppose I'll go find Chabashira-sensei instead. Chabashira-sensei is quite pretty too."

Hoshinomiya stopped and turned to stare at Ryuuen. "You know quite a lot, but that can't threaten me."

"How could I threaten a teacher? I'm a law-abiding good student. I'm merely offering Hoshinomiya-sensei a friendly reminder: beauty fades with age, so don't let time slip away."

Hoshinomiya left, leaving Ryuuen alone once more. This time, he had offended her, but he was not afraid. It was only a matter of time before he did. Whether he moved against Chabashira of Class D or Ichinose of Class B in the future, she would come to resent him. So why should he maintain a temporary and boring friendly teacher-student relationship now?

In Japan, where class oppression was severe, one of Ryuuen's favorite things was defying his superiors.

The books in the room could be borrowed, so Ryuuen took several books related to the Outdoor Survival Guide with him.

On the ship, Ryuuen shared a room with Ishizaki and Kaneda. Both were rather loyal to him, so they had no complaints when he told them not to return to the dorm before eight.

Ryuuen did not even need an excuse to send the two of them away. That was the benefit of rule by violence: the ruled only needed to obey.

At that moment, aside from Ryuuen, there was one other person in the room: Ibuki Mio.

There was only one girl who had always been dissatisfied with Ryuuen's rule, and that person was Ibuki.

"What the hell do you want with me?" Ibuki was never in a good mood when she saw Ryuuen.

"Want a beating?" Ryuuen did not indulge her either.

"Bring it on! Let's see who beats up who!" Ibuki shouted arrogantly.

Ryuuen could not understand this behavior. It was just stubborn bravado—the foolish urge to march toward a tiger even when she knew it was there.

"I have something for you to do." Ryuuen got straight to the point.

"No!" Ibuki answered crisply and decisively.

"You refused before I even told you what it was. I didn't call you here so you could refuse me."

This girl just needed a beating. One beating would do the trick. Of course, Ryuuen did not hit her too hard; he still needed her for the coming exam. He merely suspended her with bedsheets and stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth—the handkerchief he had previously taken from Hiyori. "All right, now listen to me."

When Ibuki left, the bedsheets had left many red marks on her body, with some places even turning purple.

Ryuuen, meanwhile, stared gloomily at the handkerchief dampened by Ibuki's saliva. "I should've made her wash it before she left."

Not long after Ibuki left, another guest appeared in the room: Katsuragi Kouhei from Class A.