It Was a Fall

"Huff, huff, huff."

Lezheng panted heavily, leaning against a tree. More than thirty people lay sprawled in front of him, groaning incessantly.

Nagumo had called over all the second-year boys, Kiriyama among them. Lezheng slowly walked up to Nagumo and crouched down.

"The weak are still weak. No matter how many ants there are, they can't bring down an elephant. Do you understand, Miyabi Nagumo?" Lezheng landed another punch on his face.

After winning, Lezheng did not return to the dormitory. Instead, he went to the infirmary. Although he was a skilled fighter, facing more than thirty boys a year older than him, armed with weapons to boot, had left him with some injuries.

"Lezheng? What brings you to the infirmary so late? Are you hurt?" Hoshinomiya-sensei was on duty in the infirmary.

"Yes, Hoshinomiya-sensei. I fell on my way to the bathroom tonight." Lezheng leaned back in a chair.

"This again? Let me see your injuries." Hoshinomiya was somewhat speechless.

Lezheng took off his jacket and lifted his shirt to expose his back. Several red welts marked it, left by someone who had struck him amid the chaos. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the swelling and bruises on his arms.

"Are you sure you got these from a fall?" Hoshinomiya looked utterly unconvinced.

"Absolutely." Lezheng stuck firmly to his story.

"Wait a moment. I'll get the first aid kit."

After fetching the first aid kit, Hoshinomiya first applied alcohol to Lezheng's injuries, then rubbed on ointment for bruises and sprains.

"Oh, here too." Lezheng pointed to his forehead.

"I'm a little curious who you fought."

Hoshinomiya asked again, but Lezheng answered with silence.

"Then let's leave that aside. What place do you think your class can take in this exam?"

"Hmm... we're guaranteed a spot in the top three."

"So modest? I thought you'd say first." Hoshinomiya bandaged Lezheng's forehead.

"Well, I'm injured this time, after all. It might affect my performance."

"Actually, I know you got hurt fighting Miyabi Nagumo."

"I fell," Lezheng insisted.

"But I won't tell anyone. I do need you to do me a favor, though."

"I fell."

"Keep the class led by Sae Chasuke firmly pinned in Class D," Hoshinomiya said, serious and angry.

And Lezheng's response was still:

"I fell."

Hoshinomiya clicked her tongue and pressed a little harder on the wound on Lezheng's forehead.

"Now that you've finished bandaging me, Hoshinomiya-sensei, I'll head back."

Without waiting for Hoshinomiya's response, Lezheng turned, left the infirmary, and walked into the darkness.

After walking in the dark for five minutes and making sure no one was around, Lezheng crouched down, clutching his head, and let out a low howl.

"Hiss... ah! Why does this alcohol hurt so much!"

When Lezheng returned to the dormitory, the sharp-eyed Katsuragi noticed something was wrong.

"What happened? How did you get hurt?"

"Nothing happened!" Lezheng sat down on his bed with his arms crossed.

"There's a footprint on your sleeve," Katsuragi quietly pointed out.

Lezheng turned his jacket sleeve over and, sure enough, found a footprint. He hurriedly brushed it off.

"Lezheng, you can actually take me with you next time."

"Definitely next time."

On the morning of the seventh day, every second-year boy requested leave because they had fallen and injured themselves while going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Sensing something was wrong, the school began investigating and added nighttime patrols.

Carrying his breakfast, Horikita Manabu approached Lezheng, who was eating egg fried rice. When he saw the gauze on Lezheng's forehead, he knew who the culprit was.

"Want some egg fried rice, President Horikita? I made it myself," Lezheng offered.

"Are you all right?" Horikita Manabu sat down beside Lezheng.

"I'm perfectly fine. My back just hurts a little."

"Sigh, your approach was too extreme." Horikita sighed, opened his lunchbox, and began eating.

After that, the two simply ate their own food in silence.

After six days of practice, all fifteen members of Lezheng's group could complete the zazen event. For the written exam, only Komiya and the student from Class D were a little weak, but they could still pass.

For the speech, only the group leader needed to go onstage. The only thing left to worry about now was the Forest Relay.

"There are four downhill stretches in total. Katsuragi, you'll handle the first. Kito, you take the second. The third goes to Komiya, and I'll handle the fourth."

"No problem." ×3

Lezheng divided the entire route into fifteen different sections according to everyone's physical abilities, and they practiced them over and over.

At lunchtime, Lezheng sat down beside Shiina with his lunch. Ibuki sat across from Shiina.

"You're hurt!" Shiina reached out and touched Lezheng's gauze-wrapped forehead.

"I accidentally fell in the middle of the night and hit my head," Lezheng explained.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Yes. Blow on it for me." Lezheng lowered his head.

Shiina paused at his words, then cradled Lezheng's head in both hands and gently blew on it.

"Shiina, do you know magic? Why did it stop hurting as soon as you blew on it?"

"Be careful next time you walk at night."

"Hey, you two, could you pay attention to where you are?" Ibuki said through gritted teeth.

"Jealous?" Lezheng blinked.

"You're asking for a beating!"

Sometimes, Ibuki was particularly like Kamuro. When angry, they both resembled cats with their fur standing on end.

"Lezheng, you went and did something big without a word." Ryuuen sat down beside Ibuki.

"Tch, do you have to sit next to me? And what did he do?" Ibuki said irritably.

"You can get lost and sit at the next table," Ryuuen shot back, then asked, "Were you the one who did that to Miyabi Nagumo and the others?"

"What are you talking about?" Lezheng did not admit it.

"Shiina, Lezheng got those injuries fighting other people."

"I know, but if Lezheng says he fell, then he fell," Shiina said softly.

"Hey, Lezheng, interested in transferring to our class?" Ryuuen looked excited.

"If circumstances allow, I will." Lezheng smiled faintly.

"Then we won't disturb you two any longer." Ryuuen left, carrying two lunches.

"Ryuuen, you bastard! Are you looking for a fight?" Ibuki chased after him.

Lezheng and Shiina exchanged smiles.

After lunch, Lezheng stopped Tachibana as she was about to leave.

"Tachibana-senpai, Miyabi Nagumo orchestrated your current predicament to target President Horikita."

"I know, but there's nothing I can do. Horikita is already exhausted. I don't want to trouble him any further," Tachibana said dejectedly.

"I can help you."

"How?" Tachibana asked excitedly.

"When you make breakfast tomorrow, add these." Lezheng handed her five mushrooms.

"These are a kind of mushroom I happened to find in the mountains. Eating them undercooked causes hallucinations."

Tachibana took them and put the mushrooms in her pocket. "You're sure they aren't life-threatening?"

"Don't worry. I've eaten them myself before."

Of course, this was not Lezheng's only preparation. He had also coaxed Horikita Suzune into joining in by telling her she could help her older brother, though her task was to spike the food for Asahina's group.

This time, Lezheng intended to make Miyabi Nagumo lose a large amount of his Private Points.