Observation, analysis, deduction.
The investigation into the school's surveillance caras went smoothly.
Tracking Kito Hayato's movent patterns also went smoothly.
Without much effort, Ryuuen Kakeru obtained all the information he needed.
What remained—was the thod.
"The school has installed surveillance caras in every classroom, and any crowded area is always covered," Ryuuen muttered to himself, sitting in a KTV booth at noon, legs crossed as he studied the compiled cara map. "And yet, within such a tightly controlled network, there are still certain areas in the school buildings where caras are deliberately absent."
"That… is definitely not a coincidence."
He paused, frowning slightly.
"The only problem is—Kito Hayato's usual routes don't pass through any blind spots."
Which ant any attempt at provocation would be recorded.
But… so what?
Verbal provocation alone was enough.
Words left no evidence.
As long as they could provoke him and lure him into a blind spot, they could freely "create" whatever evidence they wanted.
No—
Evidence of Kito Hayato committing "violence" against his fellow students.
Accusation. Evidence. Framing.
The school wouldn't question the "victim."
Instead, it would demand that the "perpetrator" prove their innocence.
After all—
We're the victims.
"So, Ishizaki."
Ryuuen smiled.
"Get ready to take a beating."
...
Harassnt. Provocation. Insults. Mockery.
Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yugo, and Kondo Suzune—three delinquents from Class C—blocked Kito Hayato's path, relentlessly provoking him.
Kito remained calm.
No matter the insults.
No matter the harassnt.
No matter the ridicule.
He stayed composed.
But even he had limits.
"Your outfit looks la as hell. And those gloves? Ugly." Ishizaki sneered.
It sounded like a casual insult.
But perhaps it was that very line—
That made Kito stop.
"You wanna fight? Then co on!"
With a fierce glare, he removed his gloves and beckoned them forward.
And just like that—
The violence began.
A brutal-looking three-on-one assault unfolded.
Kito didn't hold back.
After all, he was facing three opponents.
Even with confidence in his strength, he couldn't be careless.
But…
Sothing felt off.
Their punches were weak.
"Guh—!"
"Haah!"
"Take this!"
"Die—!"
Loud shouts.
Killing intent in their eyes.
Heavy-looking punches—
That barely hurt at all.
Only his own fists landed with real force, knocking them down one by one.
These Class C guys… were this weak?
"Heh… heh…"
Ishizaki hunched over, breathing heavily, yet still grinning up at Kito.
"You think… you can just walk away after this?"
"You were the ones who started it," Kito replied, frowning. His sharp features made him look even more intimidating.
"Who knows?" Ishizaki smirked strangely.
Despite being the one beaten down, he was the one smiling.
A sense of unease crept up Kito's spine.
He didn't want to continue this any further.
"Get lost! And if you've learned your lesson, don't ss with again!"
With that, he turned and left.
At first, he hadn't held back because it was three against one.
But the more he fought, the more sothing felt wrong.
He gradually reduced his strength, wary of going too far and risking penalties.
Even now, the rules from the behavioral exam still lingered.
For Class B, every point mattered.
They needed to reclaim their place in Class A.
So he had waited for Ishizaki to attack first before retaliating.
This was self-defense.
Without question.
...
Class C's favorite KTV room.
"The injuries are too light."
Ryuuen crushed a plastic bottle in his hand, glaring at Ishizaki and the others.
"Were you even trying to provoke him?"
"W-We were!" Ishizaki protested, lifting his shirt to show the faint bruises. "Otherwise, how would we have started the fight?"
"But I don't know if that guy's just weak or still so goody-two-shoes from Class A—his punches look strong, but they barely hurt!"
"You have no idea how hard we tried to piss him off!"
He glanced at his own injuries, slightly embarrassed—but unwilling to take the bla.
He raised his voice, trying to claim credit.
As long as he sounded convincing, Ryuuen might let it slide—
"Are you saying this is my fault?"
Ryuuen stood, towering over him.
"Did I make him a model student? Did I tell him to hold back?!"
His shout ca like a storm, cold and suffocating.
The crushed bottle cracked under his foot.
Ishizaki flinched.
"N-No…" he muttered.
"Then make it look real."
Ryuuen grabbed his collar and yanked him up.
"Are you going to do it yourself, or should I do it for you?"
This wasn't enough.
These injuries wouldn't convince anyone.
Reporting this to the school would be a joke.
"…!"
Ishizaki swallowed hard, cold sweat forming.
He knew Ryuuen too well.
If he refused—
Ryuuen would do far worse.
"We—we'll do it ourselves!"
Exchanging glances with Komiya and Kondo, he gritted his teeth.
They raised their fists—
Against each other.
...
Class B.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Not just because the humiliating "Class B" label still hung at the door—
But because of their horoom teacher, Mashima Tomoya.
"..."
He stood at the podium, expression complicated.
"…I thought this class would need the least concern," he finally said. "Historically, Class A has always been like this. The school's judgnt is rarely wrong. Even with minor setbacks, Class A always wins in the end."
They were supposed to be the "elite."
The gap in ability should have guaranteed their superiority.
Yet this year—
They fell to Class B in the very first month.
And stayed there for two months.
And might continue to.
Worse—
Even now, soone had fallen for provocation.
"..."
His gaze swept the classroom, lingering briefly on Kito Hayato before moving away.
He sighed.
"Three students from Class C have jointly reported that Kito Hayato engaged in a violent altercation with them."
"If the claim is confird, Kito will be suspended. And Class B will lose one hundred class points."
"…'If confird,' correct?"
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, catching the key phrase.
"How interesting. Since we are the accused, we must prove our innocence?"
"Even if it's only Class C's one-sided claim?"
She wasn't asking.
She was amused.
"…Their injuries are severe," Mashima replied quietly.
In other words—
Their "evidence" was their wounds.
The first claim always carried weight.
So the burden shifted to the accused.
"Dragon boy isn't even picking fights with the redhead anymore."
That line from the diary echoed in her mind.
Ah…
So this was the "future" that had shifted.
Well done, Class C.
Ryuuen Kakeru.
The classroom fell silent.
Kito clenched his fists.
He wanted to speak—but this wasn't his place.
"So, Kito," Sakayanagi asked calmly, "can you prove your innocence?"
"…No."
He shook his head stiffly.
There were no witnesses.
No recordings.
Even if he claid self-defense—
"That's enough," she said, nodding.
Then she turned to Kamuro Masumi.
"Please contact Ryuuen."
...
The eting place was set.
Not a KTV.
Not the rooftop.
But a blind spot behind the school building.
Sakayanagi stood with her cane.
Kamuro held a parasol.
Kito and Hashimoto Masayoshi stood beside her.
Yet—
Ryuuen was nowhere to be seen.
"Kamuro, are you sure this is the place?"
"…It should be."
"Yeah, it is."
A voice ca from behind.
Ryuuen and his group erged from the shadows.
He looked directly at Sakayanagi.
"You're Sakayanagi?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "And you are Class C's…"
"The Dragon boy," she finished.
Ryuuen's expression froze.
"Huh?"
The sudden nickna disrupted his entire rhythm.
It reminded him of soone else.
"Dragon boy."
"…You know Asakusa?" he asked, frowning.
"'Asakusa'?"
Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly.
"No… never mind."
Ryuuen sneered.
"Whoever ca up with that na, I'll tear their mouth apart sooner or later."
"But that's not important."
He looked at them coldly.
"What are you offering in exchange for a settlent?"
"You don't want Class B to fall to Class C, do you?"
Letting the school handle it wouldn't crush Class B completely.
But extracting personal points—
That was far more profitable.
"Yes, you're right."
Sakayanagi nodded.
"I don't want that to happen."
Then she smiled faintly.
"But before that… I'm curious."
"How exactly did you pull it off?"
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