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Time moved to the afternoon.
An unusual tension permeated the air in Class 1-C.
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, students, as usual, packed their bags, preparing to leave, but their movements carried an extra measure of careful caution, their gazes occasionally glancing at the window seat in the back row of the classroom.
Ryuuen Kakeru sat in his seat, not getting up immediately.
He crossed his arms, his sinister gaze sweeping across the classroom like a lion surveying its territory.
After the baffling defeat in the cafeteria at noon and Sakamoto's seemingly calm yet core-hitting advice, the rage and shame in his heart had been replaced by a more solidified determination.
Pure fists and intimidation might be enough to suppress the rabble in Class 1-C, but it was far from enough to truly mold them into a force capable of challenging Class 1-A, capable of challenging that Sakamoto.
Violence was a means, a last resort, but never the only solution, nor the optimal one.
Sakamoto's words, "scattered sand into a fist," stuck in his heart like a thorn, and also enlightened him.
During lunch break, he had already used his gaze and a few light threats to initially "sort out" some of the troublemakers in the class.
The effect was decent; at least for now, no one dared to openly challenge him.
But this was only the beginning.
He needed prestige, he needed strategy, he needed a stronger Class 1-C.
He stood up, ignoring the respectful or evasive glances cast his way, and walked straight out of the classroom.
His target was clear—Class 1-A.
He needed to see with his own eyes what that Sakamoto was like in his "territory."
How could he be so composed? How could he speak with such a condescending tone?
Was it still that pretentious elegance? Or was there another side to him?
Ryuuen quickly arrived in the hallway outside the Class 1-A classroom.
He leaned against the window, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the inside of the classroom through the bright glass window.
The elites of Class 1-A were either organizing notes or conversing in low voices, in perfect order, and an invisible sense of superiority permeated the air.
The corner of Ryuuen's mouth curled into a disdainful arc as his gaze quickly searched for the figure with the black-rimmed glasses.
He wasn't there.
The window seat was empty.
Front row, back row, corner…a quick scan, and Sakamoto was nowhere to be seen.
"Tch, so fast?"
Ryuuen frowned, muttering under his breath.
This guy, he sure slipped away quickly.
He unhappily scanned the room again, confirming that Sakamoto was indeed absent, and was about to turn and leave.
"Are you looking for Sakamoto-kun, fellow student?"
Ryuuen spun around abruptly.
A slender, silver-haired girl stood a few steps away from him, leaning on a dark wooden cane, her posture serene.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze beneath her silver hair calmly meeting his sharp eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.
It was Sakayanagi Arisu.
Ryuuen's pupils constricted imperceptibly.
Someone from Class 1-A? How did she know?
Sakayanagi seemed to read his mind, the tip of her cane gently tapping the ground, her voice still cool:
"Sakamoto-kun has become a campus celebrity in just two days. Everything he does in school…is attention-grabbing enough."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Class 1-A classroom.
"So, if a student from another class specifically comes to peer into the Class 1-A doorway, then nine times out of ten they are looking for Sakamoto-kun. It's not hard to guess, is it?"
He snorted, suppressing his irritation at being seen through, his tone stiff:
"…Heh, as expected of someone in the same class as that Sakamoto, your observational skills are quite strong."
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm,
"But so what? He's not here, I can't just stand around waiting, can I?"
He was already tired of wasting words on this Class 1-A woman, and turned to leave.
"Of course, you don't have to wait."
The voice rang out again, neither high nor low, but with an undeniable penetrative quality.
Ryuuen's steps halted, and he turned back impatiently:
"Something else?"
Sakayanagi's gaze met Ryuuen's eyes directly, her voice lowered a few notches, with a hint of probing,
"Your eyes…aren't those of a fanboy who worships an idol. With that look of hostility and desire for conquest, are you…planning to target him?"
Ryuuen was startled! This woman…how did she know?! His eyes instantly became extremely dangerous, staring intently at Sakayanagi:
"So what if I am? What's it to you?! You're from Class 1-A, are you going to stick up for him?"
"Stick up for him?"
Sakayanagi chuckled softly.
"No, you misunderstand."
She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowered, carrying a strange allure,
"What I mean is, I also…want to target Sakamoto-kun a bit."
Ryuuen was stunned.
He looked incredulously at the petite silver-haired girl in front of him.
From Class 1-A? Sakamoto's classmate? She actually said…she wanted to target Sakamoto?
This sudden declaration of an "ally" made him somewhat slow to react at first.
But this... is interesting!
It seems that pretentious guy isn't universally loved in Class 1-A either! This undoubtedly added fuel to the fire of conquest in Ryuuen's heart!
"Oh?"
Ryuuen's lips curved into a bloody arc, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Sakayanagi-san.
"A classmate wants to mess with her own? Interesting. It seems Sakamoto-kun isn't that great after all."
Sakayanagi-san was unfazed by his provocation, her cane gently tapping the ground:
"This isn't the place to talk. Student Ryuuen, if you're interested... shall we go somewhere else to chat?"
Ryuuen stared at her for a few seconds, his eyes glinting with calculation.
He finally nodded:
"Lead the way."
Sakayanagi-san smiled slightly, turned, and, leaning on her cane, walked steadily towards the other end of the corridor.
Ryuuen followed closely, his tall figure appearing particularly imposing next to Sakayanagi-san's slender back.
However, neither of them noticed that the moment they turned to leave, near the entrance of the Class 1-A classroom, a purple-haired figure quietly emerged halfway from the shadows behind the door.
It was Kamuro Masumi.
She had only been preparing to leave the classroom after class, but she unintentionally overheard fragmented conversations from the corridor outside the window—"Sakamoto," "target," "I had the same idea"... These keywords pierced through her indifference like ice picks.
Sakayanagi Arisu, that silver-haired girl from Class 1-A who uses a cane, was actually colluding with someone from another class... to target Sakamoto-kun?!
Kamuro's heart suddenly pounded.
The whispered phrase "Let's have some juice together" from outside the convenience store flashed through her mind. An indescribable complex emotion surged within her.
With almost no hesitation, Kamuro's figure, like a cat blending into the shadows, quietly followed them.
She maintained a safe distance, her purple eyes fixed on the two figures ahead, her fingertips unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes.
She wanted to know, what exactly were Sakayanagi-san and that guy from the other class plotting?
Sakamoto-kun... would that elegant and mysterious guy be in danger?