December 22nd, the day of the closing ceremony.
As the second sester officially ca to a close, all classes welcod their first winter break since enrollnt.
Shimizu Akira glanced through the notification Chabashira-sensei had posted in the group chat not long ago.
Although today was a school day, the schedule differed from the usual routine.
From 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, teachers of various subjects would co to the classroom one after another to assign howork. Being students, this winter break didn't feature a special exam like the sumr break did; instead, it involved actual winter break assignnts.
Starting around 10:30 AM, Chabashira-sensei would host a class eting for about an hour. From the afternoon onward, the winter break would officially begin.
Akira's mood was unusually pleasant today. As a student, the thought of not having classes and being able to arrange his own study pace—plus the approaching New Year—was quite exciting. Having co to Japan, he viewed New Year's Day as the start of a new year. Although he had no family with him in this world, thinking of the girls he cared about being nearby made him feel that this winter wouldn't be lonely.
As Akira was thinking this, 8:00 AM arrived. Today's three pieces of intel refreshed on ti:
Year 1 Class C horoom Chabashira-sensei Sae's deception of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka has been exposed; she is being threatened by him, and her mood has been low lately. Ryuen Kakeru of Year 1 Class D will co to Class C this morning to provoke and cause trouble. Ayanokouji Atsuomi believes that expelling Shimizu Akira would better stimulate Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's potential.
Akira read them one by one.
No wonder Chabashira Sae's mood was visibly poor lately—whether in class or during etings, she maintained a cold, "do not approach" face.
A few days ago, Ike Kanji even complained about why she had reverted to her cold attitude from the start of school.
So, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had struck back.
Akira had only one evaluation: she deserved it!
The intel stated clearly that she was caught deceiving him. In that case, being threatened and countered was perfectly normal.
Connecting this to the recent eting between Ayanokouji Atsuomi and his son, perhaps Chabashira's deception was exposed because of that.
In a way, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was actually quite naive to have been tricked by her for so long.
However, now that she had suffered a loss, it would likely be even harder to get Kiyotaka to work for the class.
This ti, Chabashira had "tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice" (a failed gamble). Though, considering she successfully used him twice before, it wasn't a total loss for her.
As for the second piece of intel: Ryuen was coming to Class C to cause trouble today? Since today was the 22nd, he must have secured the information last night that "X" was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and the "Anonymous" was Kushida Kikyo.
Regardless, Akira was well-prepared. He only needed to wait and see, letting the opponent co to him.
The final piece of intel, however, was explosive.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi? Kiyotaka's father? The founder of the White Room actually thought that expelling him would stimulate Kiyotaka's potential? What kind of logic was that? How long had this father been at the school to have mapped out his son's social circle so quickly? Kiyotaka didn't just have him as a friend! Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji were people too!
Even more ridiculous—why expel him? If you want to stimulate your son's potential, what does that have to do with Akira?
Akira felt like he was just sitting in class and a "pot fell from the sky" to hit him (being blad or targeted for no reason); this sucker punch caught him off guard. It was a headache, but mostly confusing.
Still, on second thought, since Kiyotaka had said the man would likely wait until the start of next sester to plant people in the school... he probably didn't need to worry too much until after winter break, right?
Probably.
-
-
-
Just after 10:00 AM, the various teachers left after assigning howork.
"There's too much howork!"
"Is the math teacher serious? So many papers!"
"If I do two hours a day, I can finish in five days and then go play!"
"Dream on! I bet most people, including myself, are the type to frantically finish it in the last two days of break."
Akira used to do exactly that in elentary school. Not just the last two days—he'd still be playing then. The true "howork day" was always the first day of school, rushing in early to desperately copy a classmate's answers.
Of course, with better self-control as an adult, he rarely did that anymore.
"How do you plan to spend your winter break?" Horikita Suzune asked, turning toward him as she listened to the whispers of the students.
"I plan to do an hour of problems a day. I'll take Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's off. That leaves a day or two for free arrangent," Akira replied after a brief thought.
"I see." This plan coincided with Horikita's own thoughts.
The point of holiday howork was to consolidate knowledge and prevent forgetting everything during a long break. An hour a day was perfect for maintaining a study state without being too taxing.
She had wanted to ask about his plans for Christmas Eve, but rembering the girls already surrounding him, and the fact that she wasn't his girlfriend, she swallowed the words.
Akira didn't notice Horikita's subtle mood; his attention was on the second piece of intel, his gaze drifting toward the classroom door. Sure enough, about a minute or two later, a commotion broke out outside.
The next second, Ryuen Kakeru—flanked by seven or eight lackeys like Ishizaki Daichi, Yamada Albert, and Kondo Reo—strode arrogantly into the Class C classroom.
'Wait? Is that Ibuki behind them?'
"Yo. You guys seem pretty happy for having so much howork. Love studying that much?" Ryuen crossed his arms and sauntered onto the podium.
"Ryuen! What are you doing here?"
"You've got the wrong class! You aren't part of Class C anymore!"
"Looking for trouble? You want a beating?"
Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and others imdiately shouted.
Sudo even looked ready to charge the podium.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Ryuen said, completely ignoring their threats.
"A girl from our class, Manabe, had her panties stolen by your class's Yamauchi. Now all the girls in our class are terrified. We were commissioned by them to co take a look. Is that not allowed?"
"Uh..."
"He's here because of the Yamauchi thing? Wasn't that resolved?"
"Damn it!"
Now not only Ike but even Sudo looked embarrassed. After a mont, they sat back down. In this matter, Class C was in the wrong; the opponent had a legitimate reason to co and question them.
Ryuen sneered and continued to scan the class from his high vantage point.
"Resolved? Our girls said a few more personal items went missing from the dorms recently. Who knows if soone in your class is repeating the trick?"
"Stop spouting nonsense! That guy Yamauchi is gone! There isn't a second person in our class who would do such a thing!" Sudo glared.
"Whether it's a false accusation or not, we'll know once we check, right?"
Ryuen's gaze drifted toward the lockers at the front.
"I'm quite willing to personally check your lockers one by one."
"You bastard!"
"Hey! Are we really going to let him flip through our lockers?"
"Ryuen." Horikita Suzune's cold voice rang out.
"If you have solid evidence, you can report it to the school. Barging into our classroom without proof and demanding to check lockers in public is nothing more than you trying to stir up trouble and amuse yourself by watching our reactions. If nothing is found, are you prepared to pay the price for a false accusation?"
"Hahaha! As expected of Horikita, hitting the nail on the head!" Ryuen laughed suddenly.
"Seeing how cowardly you all look, I doubt you'd have the guts to move against our class anyway."
"Look, Boss Ryuen! They actually believed it!"
"Hilarious! We played them like a fiddle!"
The lackeys behind him burst into laughter as well.
"Ryuen! You're asking for it!"
"Damn! Don't let catch you outside!"
"Not bad!" Ryuen picked at his ear, unbothered.
"The barking of you 'beaten dogs' is quite pleasant to hear."
As he spoke, he suddenly dropped his playful expression. His gaze sharpened as it swept over the class.
"Let's set that aside. I ca today to find two people—one called 'X' and the other called 'Anonymous.' I've been very 'well taken care of' by these two during these past few special exams."
Akira watched the performance.
He had to admit Ryuen had a knack for provocation and arrogance. He found himself tightening his fists; he really wanted to punch the guy.
A face that begging for a beating—it would be so satisfying to see him with two black eyes crying for rcy.
"What X? What are you talking about?"
"Anonymous again? How could our class have soone like that!"
"You ntioned this on the school forums too! Are you obsessed?"
Ryuen watched the agitated crowd with a half-smile.
"What? You two still don't dare show your faces? Let tell you, I already know exactly who you are. I'm starting a one-minute countdown. Send a ssage to my phone right now, beg for rcy, and promise to be my mole. Otherwise—" he glanced around, "I will expose your identities right here in front of the whole class!"
"This guy is just trying to sow discord again!"
"Exactly!"
The students clearly didn't take Ryuen's words seriously. Ryuen unhurriedly pulled out his phone. "45 seconds left."
Kushida Kikyo maintained her signature sweet smile, while Ayanokouji Kiyotaka remained expressionless.
"15 seconds."
Ryuen glanced at his silent phone screen, a sneer curling his lip. "Very well. You certainly are composed."
"0 seconds!"
"Good, good, good!" Ryuen laughed in anger. "I gave you a full minute and you still won't admit it?"
Last night, Shiina Hiyori had told Ryuen the identities of "X" and "Anonymous." X was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and Anonymous was Kushida Kikyo.
Honestly, while he was shocked for a few minutes, on second thought, it was within expectations.
During the sports festival, it was Kiyotaka who cald Sudo down and perfectly matched Akira's pace in the two-legged race; such a person could never be ordinary.
As for Kushida, though he was surprised by her dual personality, during the Paper Shuffle exam, Akira had specifically sent her to check Yamauchi's uniform—the two might have been working together for a long ti.
In truth, from the start, Ryuen hadn't intended to attack or retaliate against these two.
He had asked Hiyori to investigate only to find new moles for Class C, since Yamauchi was gone. To put it bluntly, as long as these two played along as his insiders and showed a bit of submission, Ryuen didn't plan to make things hard for them.
But he had given them 60 seconds to consider, and neither had reached for their phones. The nature of the situation had changed completely.
'Provoking , Ryuen, are we? Want to die?'
In that case, Ryuen cast aside all reservations. His gaze locked directly onto Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in the back row, exposing his identity in public: "Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. You're the one called X, aren't you!"
"..."
"What X?"
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka? Isn't he just a plain student? What are you talking about?!"
Ryuen suddenly grinned and sneered.
Ayanokouji was a plain student? That was the funniest joke he'd ever heard. It seed this guy's camouflage was quite good; the taste of "playing a pig to eat the tiger" must have been thrilling for him.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is no ordinary person." His eyes were locked on Kiyotaka's face, his tone playful.
"During the last Paper Shuffle exam, he personally helped out a lot, hehe."
After saying this, Ryuen stared at Kiyotaka's face, wanting to see what expression he would make after being exposed.
Would it be cowardice, fear, or panic? Either way, it would make Ryuen extrely happy.
But in the next second, Kiyotaka asked calmly: "Ryuen-kun, what are you talking about? I don't understand. When did I help you in the VIP exam? You must have the wrong person."
"This guy!" Ryuen's mouth twitched. He hadn't expected the other party to deny it so blatantly without batting an eye.
But then again, this was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
The plan to get Yamauchi expelled had co from this guy.
Where did his confidence co from? Ryuen frowned and thought for a long ti before it suddenly hit him.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was betting that Ryuen wouldn't dare make their chat logs public.
Among the school rules, there were many clauses that could lead to imdiate expulsion, and the one regarding "framing a classmate to cause their expulsion" ant that both the mastermind and the executor would be expelled.
Once made public, it wouldn't just be Ayanokouji getting expelled; people like Ryuen and Manabe would be buried with him!
He couldn't use the chat logs as evidence to prove Ayanokouji was X or that the Paper Shuffle plan was his.
It was the sa as "damaging oneself by a thousand to hurt the enemy by eight hundred."
Damn it, did this Ayanokouji predict this from the very beginning? Since they both held leverage over each other, he didn't care about his identity being revealed.
"Ryuen? Why'd you stop talking?"
"Exactly, where's that arrogance from a mont ago? Why are you stuttering now that Ayanokouji asked you a question?"
The surrounding murmurs grew. Ryuen sneered, suppressing his irritation for the mont as he changed the subject.
"Fine, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, you're good. Then what about the 'Anonymous' matter? Kushida Kikyo!"
He would take the loss on Ayanokouji's end for now, as he couldn't think of a way to counter him imdiately. But Kushida Kikyo was different; she proactively betrayed her class, and he held no leverage over her. Controlling her should be easier.
"Ryuen-kun, I don't understand what you're saying," Kushida Kikyo said, maintaining her innocent smile.
"Still acting? During the island exam, you were the one who proactively assisted Ibuki, right?" Ryuen turned toward the back of the group.
"Ibuki, you tell them! Was it her who helped you create opportunities to be alone?"
But Ibuki Mio remained unmoved, simply standing there silently.
"Ibuki! Get over here now!" Ryuen's voice sharpened.
"You don't want Shiina to be targeted by because of this, do you?"
Ibuki Mio crossed her arms and walked out reluctantly.
"That's right, it was Kushida."
"But, at that ti, I didn't know Ibuki-san was a spy," Kushida said, her smile unchanged.
"I was looking out for her since her first day, often sharing food with her. On the first day of the island exam, I even protected her and Shiina-san together with Ichinose-san. To be accused like this now... even I feel hurt."
"Ibuki! Kushida has always been so kind, how could you say that!"
"Exactly! Last ti you were almost hit by Ryuen, it was Kushida who helped you!"
"So annoying!" Facing the accusations and rembering that Kushida indeed looked after her, Ibuki felt sowhat in the wrong.
"I was just called here to testify! I'm done, I'm leaving! Hey! Ryuen! If you dare target Shiina, I'll blow up everything with you!"
"Ibuki, you...!" Ryuen watched her flee, nearly bursting out with curses. He hadn't even had the chance to let her continue her testimony, and the witness had run off! How was he supposed to continue?
"Ryuen-kun, do you have anything else to say?" Hirata Yousuke stood up.
"There are only ten minutes until the class eting begins. Please leave our classroom."
"What's the rush? It's just starting!" Ryuen pulled out his phone, revealing his final trump card—the chat logs between him and "Anonymous" during the VIP exam. He held it in front of Hirata.
"Hey! Take a good look, you idiots! This woman told the information about the two VIPs! In the end, she even pushed Yamauchi out as a scapegoat. Your whole class was screwed over by her!"
"How about it? The 'Angel Miss' in your eyes is actually a calculating, dark-bellied woman behind the scenes! Everything I'm saying is the truth. You idiots are being played for fools!"
"Hah? Ryuen Kakeru, what nonsense are you spouting now?"
"How could Kushida-san do such a thing? Stop slandering her!"
Rebuttals imdiately filled the room; almost no one was willing to believe Ryuen's words.
"You don't believe it?" Ryuen turned his phone screen toward the crowd.
"See for yourself. Is this style of chatting not exactly Kushida Kikyo's?"
"Even if the first few sentences are similar, this is just an anonymous account. Anyone could fake this," soone imdiately challenged.
"Hmph! Yamauchi Haruki himself knew he was frad! I have chat logs with him too—the tone is exactly like Kushida's usual self! This is key evidence!" Ryuen shot back.
"Ryuen." Shimizu Akira suddenly stood up, looking at him calmly.
"Betrayal requires a motive. I truly cannot think of any reason for Kikyo to betray the class. During these past special exams, she has contributed a great deal. You say she betrayed the class, so why would she work so hard for it multiple tis? Isn't that a contradiction?"
At the ntion of this, Ryuen wanted to curse again.
Who knew what that Kushida woman was after! She was jumping around like a lunatic.
Akira's gaze swept over the crowd as he continued, "Furthermore, given your reputation, forging a chat log or faking an anonymous account is likely not a difficult task for you, is it?"
"What... how dare you accuse without proof! Everything I say is true! Not a single word is a lie!"
Ryuen trembled with rage, staring at him. He was fuming!
He, Ryuen Kakeru, was telling the truth for the first ti in his life! Yet no one believed him! He was finally experiencing what it felt like to have dirty water thrown on him.
'Damn it! This is miserable!'
"Ryuen-kun, you don't really have any reputation left to speak of."
A clear female voice ca from the side.
Everyone looked over to see Ichinose Honami entering the room with a few Class B students. She walked up to Ryuen and spoke clearly: "In the first month, you sent subordinates to harass Class B students. During the midterms, you intentionally tried to fra Sudo-kun. During the island exam, you planted Ibuki and Kaneda as spies. In the VIP exam, you bribed Yamauchi-kun. During the sports festival, you bought him off for Class C's participation list. For the Paper Shuffle, you sent Manabe-san to approach Yamauchi."
Ichinose listed Ryuen's history. "With a track record like that, why should anyone trust you?"
Her words won imdiate approval.
"Perfectly said! Well-reasoned and to the point!"
"Exactly, Ryuen, you have zero credibility. You're definitely here to lie and fra people again! Those screenshots? Probably Photoshopped!"
Even the lackeys Ryuen brought from Class D began to look at their boss with doubt, whispering: "Boss Ryuen, this... could it really be a fra-up this ti?"
"Shut up!" Ryuen's face was as ugly as it could be as he snapped at them.
He finally understood why Ayanokouji and Kushida were so unfazed. His past had robbed him of everyone's trust; even if he spoke the absolute truth, no one would believe it.
Even children know the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Then, Ichinose's tone shifted as she looked at Ryuen.
"However, as a mber of the Student Council, since you are accusing a classmate of a fra-up, I cannot simply ignore it."
Ryuen snapped his head up, a glimr of unbelievable hope in his eyes.
'No way. Is this stupid woman actually going to help investigate?'
"But the key problem," Ichinose's tone remained calm—because before coming, Akira had ssaged her exactly what to say—"is that Yamauchi Haruki has already been forcibly expelled for violating school rules.
His phone was confiscated by the school that sa day.
Students who are expelled usually harbor so resentnt toward the school; even if the Student Council wanted to contact him for verification, it would be extrely difficult, if not impossible. I just consulted with a Student Council senior; in cases where the victim is no longer at the school, the administration and the council generally do not accept the case."
Her words were like ice water, instantly dousing Ryuen's last hope.
"So, Ryuen-kun," Ichinose's tone turned serious, "please leave Class C with your companions imdiately. Do not affect the rest ti of others any longer, and do not slander or harass your fellow students.
Otherwise, as a mber of the Student Council, I have the right to deduct points from your class according to school rules."
Ryuen's heart went cold. At this point, no matter how unwilling he was, he had nothing left to say.
'Cannot investigate? Just because Yamauchi isn't at the school anymore? Since the so-called 'victim' is gone, on what grounds could the council even open a case?!
Damn it!'
He had completely miscalculated this ti!
What made him want to vomit blood even more was that the person who personally sent Yamauchi out of the school was none other than himself! He had truly shot himself in the foot; it was impossibly stupid!
'Fuck! Was this part of Kushida Kikyo's plan from the start? No, with her brain, she couldn't have thought of such a ticulous plan—it must have been Shimizu Akira behind her giving advice! Damn this couple!
Shimizu Akira, you're really sothing! To keep Kushida safe, you set up such a massive ga? You've been planning since before the Paper Shuffle, haven't you!
And those 'contributions' Kushida made to the class... you probably intentionally had her do them just to build up a reputation and shut everyone up!
Did this Kushida woman save the galaxy in her past life? Why else would Akira care so much and protect her so thoroughly?'
In that case, his asking Shiina Hiyori to investigate their identities was utterly aningless from the beginning!
"Damn it! We're leaving!" Ryuen glared at Akira and Kushida, finally leading his subordinates out of the Class C room in a huff.
"Hahaha! Who's the beaten dog now?"
"Ryuen running away with his tail between his legs—what's the difference between him and a loser!"
"Thanks to Ichinose-san for helping us out!"
"Exactly, otherwise Ryuen would have really tried to bite us."
Ichinose smiled and nodded.
"You're welco. Whether as a Student Council mber or a partner of Class C, I couldn't stand by. The eting is about to start, so I'll take my leave."
Before turning to leave, she caught Akira's eye and gave a subtle nod.
Read ahead (160 chapters) by supporting on buyacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting
User Comments
0 comments from readers