Punishment for Kikyo

After the first discussion ended, Ryuuen gathered all the students in the class into a lounge. His reason for calling them over was simple.

"Everyone, hand over your phones. I'll check the VIP information one by one and delete it."

No one defied Ryuuen's order, and Ryuuen felt no guilt over invading anyone's privacy.

"Why delete the VIP information?" Ishizaki, who was not particularly bright, asked.

Ryuuen had never liked explaining himself, so Hiyori thoughtfully stepped in. "The school only prohibits copying, forwarding, or altering received emails. Deleting emails isn't forbidden. Once the emails are deleted, there's no direct evidence proving who is a VIP. Then everyone can claim to be a VIP, making it harder for students from other classes to guess."

Ishizaki suddenly understood and willingly handed over his phone.

Quite a few girls in the class were unwilling, but they belonged to the weaker group and lacked both the right and courage to resist. On top of that, Hiyori, the girl with the most influence among them, strongly supported Ryuuen on this matter, so they had no choice but to hand over their phones.

Of course, Ryuuen had his own principles. He was not vile enough to actually pry into other people's private information.

After the inspection, Ryuuen kept Hiyori, Kaneda, and Ibuki behind. "Look at this list. Can you spot any pattern?"

Ryuuen had typed the VIPs' names into his phone. After taking one look, the three of them fell into thought.

Hiyori and Kaneda could be considered the two smartest people in the class, while Ibuki had her own cleverness as well. Perhaps she might discover something new. Ryuuen had high expectations for Ibuki, though she herself had no idea.

Just as Hiyori was about to speak after thinking it over, Ryuuen stopped her. "No rush. We'll discuss the pattern next time. I'll bring the list of Class D's VIPs then, and we can confirm whether the pattern you found is correct. For now, let's eat first. Even an emperor doesn't send hungry soldiers into battle."

Naturally, Ryuuen did not go eat with them. He already had the pattern of the exam and the list of VIPs in his head, but if he suddenly reached a conclusion, people would inevitably talk. It would be troublesome if that drew suspicion from the school or Ayanokoji.

So at this stage, every step Ryuuen took was merely meant to make his conclusions seem reasonable. To do that, he needed a way to obtain the information on Class D's VIPs.

"Beep, beep, beep."

"Hello? Who is this?" Kushida Kikyo's gentle voice came from the other end of the phone.

"It's me." Ryuuen's voice was distinctive enough to be recognized the moment he spoke.

"Beep, beep, beep."

Kushida Kikyo hung up, but after a while, she called back.

"What is it this time?" Kushida Kikyo's tone had clearly become impatient. It seemed the earlier matter of making her take care of Horikita Suzune still rankled her.

"Come to the cabin. We'll talk face-to-face." Ryuuen hung up after saying that and switched off his phone. He had bought this phone back from Sakagami Kazuma. A cunning rabbit had three burrows; Ryuuen had no intention of keeping all his points on one phone. The points on the phone he had shown Kouenji earlier had only been part of them.

In truth, Ryuuen could have asked about the VIPs over the phone. The reason he had called Kushida Kikyo over for a face-to-face meeting was to teach her a lesson.

He had neglected Kushida for too long. That girl had seemingly gotten a little full of herself lately, showing obvious resistance to his orders.

Kushida Kikyo's value in gathering intelligence was unmatched. To completely control her, Ryuuen needed to put in some effort. Of course, what concerned him more was whether Kushida Kikyo would betray him. Could this woman truly be trusted? Ryuuen had always doubted it. Still, Kushida was undeniably a useful weapon, and unless it became absolutely necessary, Ryuuen did not want to discard her.

By the time Kushida Kikyo arrived, Ryuuen had been waiting for twenty minutes. In the dim cabin, he played with his phone, its screen casting light across his face. He clearly was not pleased.

"I took a little time doing my makeup." Kushida was good at reading the room and quickly explained why she was late.

In fact, Ryuuen had never set a time, so Kushida Kikyo could not really be blamed for arriving late.

Ryuuen had not intended to make things difficult for Kushida over something so minor. "Thank you."

Kushida Kikyo had not expected Ryuuen to be someone who thanked people, much less thank her. Rather than feeling even the slightest joy, she became more nervous. Something was wrong; Ryuuen's thanks only made Kushida Kikyo more uneasy.

"It's nothing. I didn't really do anything." Kushida Kikyo put on her false mask and offered a polite response.

"Do you know what I'm thanking you for?" Ryuuen put down his phone, walked up to Kushida Kikyo, and pressed close against her.

Kushida still wore heavy makeup, rose-colored lipstick coating her soft lips. From Ryuuen's perspective, she looked extremely enticing.

Kushida took a step back. "There's no need to thank me for whatever I do for you. It's what I should do."

Kushida was still afraid of Ryuuen. Being alone with him, faced with the absolute difference in strength between a man and a woman, gave her an overwhelming sense of danger. I mustn't anger Ryuuen, Kushida Kikyo told herself.

Ryuuen stepped forward and pinched Kushida's cheek. "I told you, there's no need to pretend in front of me. Go on—do what you really want to do, say what you really want to say. It's just me here. Let me see what's in your heart."

"It's really nothing." Kushida Kikyo did not even know what she was saying. What exactly was Ryuuen thanking her for? What exactly was she saying was nothing?

Ryuuen reached out with both hands and kneaded Kushida's slightly chubby cheeks. "I still owe you two punches. Want to give me one? Don't hold it in. Your eyes are full of fire."

Ryuuen twisted Kushida Kikyo's cheeks as Kikyo's chest rose and fell violently.

"Ah!"

Kushida Kikyo punched Ryuuen in the chest.

"Why do I have to take care of that trashy woman?!"

"Why would anyone like that trashy woman?!"

"Why do I have to cater to those disgusting men?!"

"Why? Why does that ugly woman Matsushita Chiaki dare look down on me?!"

It seemed Kushida Kikyo had built up quite a lot of stress lately. Her echoes reverberated through the cabin while she kept pounding Ryuuen's chest, though her strength gradually weakened.

Kushida Kikyo had vented almost enough, and she looked much more relaxed. Just as she was about to speak, she met Ryuuen's sharp eyes. "Feeling better?"

Kushida nodded and let out a breath, fragrant and sweet as it brushed against Ryuuen.

"You hit me more than twice just now. I should collect a little payment."

Before Kushida could ask what price she had to pay, Ryuuen seized her upper lip. Kushida tasted fuller than Hiyori, and her orange-scented sweetness stirred Ryuuen's breath.

In Ryuuen's eyes, Kushida could not be compared to Hiyori, and he would not treat her as gently as he treated Hiyori.

He freely plundered her saliva and swept away her rose-colored lipstick, wrapping an arm around Kushida's waist. It was a completely different experience from Hiyori.

Kushida's chest pressed against Ryuuen, bringing a strange sensation.