"Yo."
Looking at Subaru, who wore an expressionless face, a boy standing slightly ahead greeted both him and Hiyori Shiina with a tone that carried a hint of banter. He appeared somewhat free and easy, unconstrained by rules.
He had slightly long hair that was tinged with a reddish hue, with a few strands casually draping over his forehead.
"Isn't this the big celebrity of Class D who abducted our class's 'literary girl'?"
"Truly terrifying. You expelled your own classmate in the morning, and in the afternoon, you're out watching a movie with our class's Shiina?"
The boy's gaze toward Subaru was like that of a predator looking at prey, filled with a calculating measure.
The intonation of his voice was somewhat drawn out, making the playfulness within his tone palpably obvious.
"Ryuen Kakeru!"
"What do you want by appearing here at this time?"
Before Subaru could say anything, Hiyori Shiina frowned slightly and said, "Don't tell me your appearance here at this time is due to some coincidence..."
Although she had a premonition—and this premonition had become very strong after Subaru expelled a classmate from his own class today—Hiyori hadn't expected Ryuen to come looking for trouble with Subaru this very afternoon.
"Heh, Shiina, I came here specifically to see the big celebrity."
Ryuen knew what Hiyori implied. He chuckled twice and said, "The big celebrity has done something so eye-catching now. Even without your factor, Shiina, it's quite normal for me to come and take a look, right?"
Ryuen had noticed Subaru's existence very early on, back when Subaru was first exposed by Arisu Sakayanagi's forum post. At that time, he also knew that Hiyori Shiina read books with Subaru every day.
He had even wanted to 'persuade' Hiyori to cooperate with him and probe Subaru.
But unexpectedly, Hiyori had sternly refused him. Coupled with the fact that failing the midterm exams in May would lead to expulsion, and many students in Year 1, Class C had poor academic abilities, Ryuen had been distracted.
As the leader of Year 1, Class C, he naturally needed to whip them into shape, so he had temporarily put the matter regarding Subaru aside. Now that the midterm exams were over and Subaru had suddenly caused such a massive expulsion incident, Ryuen's gaze naturally focused on Subaru once again.
This time today, he had come specifically to find Subaru.
While Year 1, Class C wanted to climb up, they also had to guard against Year 1, Class D eyeing them covetously from behind.
And currently, the most alarming figure in Year 1, Class D was undoubtedly Subaru, who had forcibly expelled a classmate just two months into the school year. He spent 1.6 million personal points to expel Haruki Yamauchi and still had a massive sum of five million points remaining.
It was hard for Ryuen not to take this seriously.
If he couldn't determine the threat Subaru posed to Year 1, Class C, Ryuen had no way to wholeheartedly lead Class C in their continued ascent.
"...?"
Regarding Ryuen's explanation, Hiyori indeed had nothing good to say.
Given Subaru's current situation, it would be the height of absurdity to say that Ryuen wouldn't notice him.
"You are the leader of Year 1, Class C, right?"
"I have some impression of you."
Subaru looked at Ryuen, who was standing in front of him with the slight intention of blocking his path. A gentle, slightly weary smile appeared on Subaru's face as he said, "It seems that the final victor of Year 1, Class C is you?"
On the second day after enrollment, when Subaru was preparing to sell information, he had passed by Year 1, Class C. The boy fighting inside Class C at that time was the one before him, named Ryuen Kakeru.
That had caused Subaru to pay a little attention to him back then.
Compared to ordinary students, Ryuen's fighting style had a reckless feel to it, which was somewhat interesting.
"Ah, you're talking about the start of the school term."
"That's right. Although it was a bit tough, the final victor was indeed me."
Ryuen was slightly stunned upon hearing Subaru's words, then realized what Subaru was referring to. He smiled and said, "Furthermore, three years from now, the final victor of this academy will also be me."
"Is that so."
"There are still fifteen minutes before the movie starts."
Subaru nodded, glanced at the time on his phone, and said, "I can chat with you for ten minutes."
Although it couldn't be called 'genuine', compared to someone like Arisu Sakayanagi who spoke in twists and turns, or Haruki Yamauchi who liked to pin various labels and find excuses, there was no doubt...
Subaru greatly appreciated someone like Ryuen, who displayed his 'hostility' toward him without any concealment.
If he wanted to target him from the start, he would target him. He would even use unscrupulous means to do so. Direct enough, capable of facing his own nature directly—Subaru appreciated that very much.
Ryuen, for the time being, could be counted as one of the true potential stocks.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Interesting. Subaru, you really are interesting."
After hearing Subaru's answer, Ryuen laughed loudly and said, "It seems I worried too much."
"Subaru, you seem to be the kind of guy who doesn't care about the class at all..."
" Staying in Year 1, Class D is truly a waste of your talent. How about it? Do you want to come to our Year 1, Class C?"
Ryuen took a step toward Subaru's position. Although his posture still gave off a lazy feeling, the light revealed in his eyes became sharper.
It was as if he wanted to see directly through Subaru's seemingly gentle and polite facade.
"Eh?"
"Come to Class C?"
Subaru actually considered the question Ryuen threw out somewhat seriously.
Subaru knew about transferring classes. Previously, when he tortured Chie Hoshinomiya and Sae Chabashira for information, Subaru had learned almost all the rules of this school, more or less.
However, transferring classes required a full twenty million personal points.
The school had also prohibited actions similar to the previous incident of using staff members' leverage to blackmail them. Even if he really blackmailed them, it was estimated that the school would directly exchange it for Japanese Yen, not allowing it to be used within the school.
If he couldn't operate like that, although earning twenty million personal points wasn't a difficult task for Subaru, the process would indeed become much more troublesome all of a sudden.
Basically, it would require truly participating in the competition between classes.
Very troublesome.
Now that Haruki Yamauchi had been expelled by Subaru, and the majority of Year 1, Class D had been made an example of by Subaru's 'killing the chicken to scare the monkey', they likely wouldn't be as noisy as before.
Therefore, Subaru's need to transfer classes was practically non-existent.
"I haven't been completely ignorant of Year 1, Class D."
"With your talent and strength, Subaru, don't you really feel stifled staying in a place like Class D?"
Ryuen spread his hands, making a welcoming gesture.
"A bunch of naive and weak guys, spun around by the rules, plus a rigid class representative."
"So, come to Class C, Subaru."
"I don't have that many rules here, and certainly not that much nonsense. Strength speaks; the winner takes all!"
By the end of his speech, Ryuen's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of danger.
Ryuen's recruitment could be said to be straightforward and naked, without any concealment.
Undoubtedly, Ryuen's words revealed his appreciation and wariness of Subaru. He appreciated the indifference, efficiency, and utilization of rules that Subaru displayed, which were completely different from his peers.
Ryuen even felt that he saw a bit of his own shadow in Subaru.
If he didn't want to lead the class to promotion, there was a high probability that he would be just like Subaru is now: using various means to earn a massive amount of personal points, finding a confidant like Hiyori Shiina in this school, and enjoying life.
At the same time, Ryuen had put himself in the other's shoes. If he were in Year 1, Class D...
Most likely, he would really just look out for himself and wouldn't think about leading Year 1, Class D to do anything at all.
As for the wariness, Ryuen wanted to see what kind of answer Subaru would give when facing his invitation.
Ryuen's core objective in contacting Subaru this time was not actually to invite Subaru to join Year 1, Class C. Leaving aside the cost of transferring classes, if one could transfer to Class C, wouldn't it also be possible to transfer to Class A?
In that case, the cost of this transfer was absolutely not something the current Year 1, Class C could afford.
Ryuen's true purpose was to confirm the threat Subaru posed to himself and to Year 1, Class C.
"After expelling Yamauchi-kun, I think the class will be much quieter."
"For the time being, there is no need to transfer classes."
Facing the oppressive pressure Ryuen was constantly generating, Subaru felt absolutely nothing.
"Moreover, the points required to transfer classes are twenty million."
"Ryuen-kun shouldn't be thinking of letting me bear this transfer fee, right?"
"After all, if twenty million can transfer me to Ryuen-kun's Class C, naturally, it can also transfer me to Class A."
Subaru looked at Ryuen's slightly narrowed eyes and smiled gently. He then smiled at Hiyori Shiina, who had been staying quietly by his side, and said, "The movie is about to start. Let's go in."
"Mhm, let's go."
Hiyori nodded, smiled at Subaru, and immediately took Subaru's hand, leading the way toward the position blocked by Ryuen and the others.
In broad daylight, with dense surveillance, Ryuen and the others naturally wouldn't dare to engage in behavior that was excessive in the true sense.
Especially when facing a girl like Hiyori.
After all, here in Japan—those who know, know—being latched onto by a girl at a glance is truly a fate worse than death.
"Ha?"
"So we came over just to say two sentences to Subaru from Year 1, Class D?"
A somewhat petite girl next to Ryuen spoke with dissatisfaction.
As the dominant figure of Year 1, Class C, Ryuen naturally couldn't really retreat when facing girls. The girl beside him was naturally the weapon Ryuen used to deal with girls in some public settings.
For example, if Ryuen had wanted to just now, he could have let the girl beside him engage in some physical pulling with Hiyori. Even in a public place with dense surveillance, some tussling between two girls wouldn't amount to much.
The girl beside him was named Mio Ibuki. She excelled in martial arts, and her combat ability was absolutely among the best among the girls.
It was enough to face the vast majority of girls in the school.
"Ibuki."
"Heh, of course it's not as simple as just saying two sentences."
Hearing Mio Ibuki's somewhat dissatisfied voice, Ryuen chuckled lightly and said, "I was just determining whether or not to set my target on Subaru."
"What do you mean?"
"Just now you looked like you really appreciated that guy, wishing you could invite him over immediately."
Mio Ibuki was stunned by Ryuen's answer.
She didn't get it at all. Before, it was obviously a very harmonious and friendly chat and invitation. How had it now turned into considering him a target for attack? She couldn't understand it at all.
"If you don't understand, forget it."
"Trying to force you to understand is indeed a bit demanding."
Looking at Ibuki, who kept speaking to prick him, Ryuen said cheerfully, "Anyway, just like Albert, you just need to follow my orders and do things directly when I need you."
"What do you mean by 'forcing me to understand is a bit demanding'?!"
Ibuki raised her eyebrows.
"I hate the feeling of being kept in the dark."
"And, I hate being treated like an idiot who only knows how to use her fists even more!"
Ibuki curled her lips, expressing her strong dissatisfaction to Ryuen.
"The reason for considering Subaru as the next target is very simple."
Ryuen's expression became slightly serious as he said, "I believe Subaru himself is a massive threat."
"A threat?"
"Is he?"
Compared to Ryuen, Mio Ibuki didn't sense any threat coming from Subaru.
She even felt a bit embarrassed that Subaru and Hiyori were dating here just fine, and then she and Ryuen's group came over, surrounding them like guys with bad intentions.
Although the matter of Subaru using personal points to directly expel his classmate in the morning had shocked Ibuki as well, judging from the simple contact with Subaru just now... he seemed okay.
At the very least, if one didn't provoke Subaru, nothing should happen.
Subaru basically spent all month soaking in the library enjoying his two-person world with Hiyori, not caring about the class's interests at all. Ibuki found it hard to imagine where Subaru's threat lay.
"Ibuki, you think of 'threat' too simply."
"I believe Subaru poses a threat to our Year 1, Class C not because Subaru possesses 'hostility' toward us."
"Hostility itself can be counted as a type of threat, but it absolutely cannot represent all threats."
Looking at Ibuki, Ryuen leaned against the railing nearby, looking at the clear sky, and said faintly, "The reason I feel Subaru is a threat is because of Subaru's 'uncontrollability'."
___
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