The first snow of December brushed softly against the academy's glass windows, glittering faintly beneath the pale winter sunlight. The temperature had dropped so much that even the usually lively corridors seemed quieter, filled only with the occasional chatter of students wrapped in scarves and mittens.
Inside my dorm room, however, the atmosphere was anything but quiet.The small living space had turned into our regular weekend base — the headquarters of Yukimura's study group, or as some jokingly called it, Miyamoto's gang.
Yukimura, Haruka, Akito, Mei Yu Wang, Okitani, Wataru, Airi Sakura, and An Maezono were all scattered around my room, some playing video games, others munching on snacks. The faint sound of game effects, laughter, and rustling chip bags filled the air.I'd also invited Ayanokōji — who, despite his usual reluctance to get involved, was sitting in a corner watching the chaos unfold.
"Ah! Don't use that combo, Miyake! You're cheating!" Haruka shouted, her voice echoing like a battle cry.
"I'm not cheating, you just can't dodge properly!" Miyake countered, grinning.
Yukimura adjusted his glasses with an exasperated sigh. "We were supposed to study today, not… whatever this is."
"Relax, Yukimura," I laughed, tossing him a bag of chips. "You'll burn out if you study all the time. Today's our break."
He sighed again but didn't throw the chips back. That was as good as consent.
As the match ended with Haruka's dramatic defeat, Airi spoke up softly, her eyes gentle but bright.
"You know," she began, "I'm really glad no one from the first years got expelled."
Everyone quieted down a little.Even with laughter lingering in the air, the thought of expulsion was always a cold shadow over our heads.
"Yeah," Yukimura said, serious again. "We were lucky. It could've gone differently."
"I just wish," Airi continued, "that everyone could graduate from Class A together. Every class, equal."
Her words were pure — maybe too pure for a school built on hierarchy.
"That's a nice dream," Miyake replied, leaning back. "But I heard a rumor that if all classes tie in points, the school will run a special test to decide the rankings anyway."
I blinked. "A special test?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's just a rumor, but it sounds like something the school would do."
"Even if it's true," Haruka said, "it doesn't change much. This school's built on competition."
Yukimura folded his arms. "Exactly. It's eat or be eaten. That's the system. Equality doesn't exist here."
Airi's face dimmed a little, though she tried to smile. "I know… I just wish it was different."
I leaned forward. "Then what if it were you, Airi? What if you were the one expelled?"
Her eyes widened, surprised."I… I guess I'd accept it."
I smiled faintly. "Then I'd be sad."
The room fell quiet for a moment — not awkwardly, but warmly.Airi looked down, hiding her face behind her long bangs, but I caught a hint of a smile.
Ayanokōji, watching silently from his corner, seemed to take note of it — as he always did with everything.
The conversation shifted naturally, like a snowflake drifting in the wind.
"Hey, Airi," Haruka suddenly asked, "you still have your digital camera, right?"
"Eh? Yeah, I do!" Airi brightened up immediately. "I took some photos recently."
"Photography's really a girl's hobby," Yukimura said absent-mindedly. "I never got why people post everything on Instagram."
Haruka whipped around, frowning. "Wow, sexist much? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just said I don't get it. I didn't mean—"
"Still rude," she interrupted.
I laughed. "Come on, Yukimura, let her win this one. Trust me."
Haruka crossed her arms proudly, and Yukimura sighed again.
Airi, shy but excited, opened her camera and scrolled through the gallery."I've been taking some photos lately, you know… nothing special. Just stuff that makes me happy."
She showed us her screen.The first photo was of me carrying Ibuki on my shoulders during a casual outing — her annoyed expression contrasting the small smile I couldn't hide.Another one showed me sitting down with Ibuki perched on my lap, her cheeks slightly red as she tried to push me away.And then there was one of me and Airi together — both of us smiling genuinely at the camera.
"See?" Airi said softly. "I'm still practicing."
Everyone leaned closer."Whoa," Haruka said, impressed. "You're good! These look professional."
"Not bad," Akito added. "You could make a portfolio."
I chuckled. "Guess you caught my good side."
Ibuki would kill me if she saw that photo circulating, but it was still nice — a frozen memory of something peaceful.
Yukimura tried to act unimpressed, but even he smiled a little. "They're well-composed, I'll admit."
"Thanks," Airi said, cheeks glowing pink.
Miyake shifted the topic next. "By the way, don't you guys think Class C's been acting strange lately?"
Everyone turned their attention to him.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I've noticed Ryūen's guys — Komiya and that other one — have been hanging around our class a lot. Following people. Watching."
Haruka frowned. "Creepy."
"They're probably spying," Yukimura concluded. "Trying to find something."
"But why us?" Haruka pressed.
"Because Ryūen hates losing," I said simply. "And we've beaten him a few times now."
"That's true," Ayanokōji said quietly. "He's lost face — and that's something he can't tolerate."
The group fell silent, realising how close the danger still lingered.
"Anyway," I said after a moment, "just be careful. Girls, stick together when you go out — Haruka, Mei, Airi, An. Don't go alone. Boys should move in pairs at least."
Akito nodded firmly. "Got it."
Haruka smirked. "You sound like our bodyguard now, Soshi."
"Maybe I am," I replied. "Someone's gotta keep you all safe."
The warmth returned, brief but welcome.
Ayanokōji, though silent, seemed deep in thought. I could tell he'd already guessed Ryūen's next move. His gaze flickered toward the window — thoughtful, calculating.
"The truth is," he murmured, "Ryūen's probably narrowed down his suspects already. It's just a matter of when he'll make his move."
Yukimura flipped through his notes absently. "Our class points are getting closer, right? There's only about a fifty-point gap now."
"Yeah," Wataru confirmed. "Class C even lost a hundred points last month. Some kind of internal fight."
"Self-destructing," Haruka said. "Typical Ryūen."
"Maybe it's intentional," Ayanokōji murmured. "He's the kind of person who'll burn down his own house if it means killing the enemy inside."
That drew a few uneasy looks.But I couldn't disagree — it was true.
Airi hugged her knees. "I hope things calm down soon."
"Don't count on it," Yukimura said. "The next special test's probably coming right after Christmas."
"Guess we should enjoy peace while it lasts," I said with a grin. "We've earned it."
The tension eased again, replaced by playful teasing.
"So, Ayanokōji," Haruka said slyly, "you're really close to Horikita, huh? Maybe even dating?"
Ayanokōji blinked, unfazed. "That's not the case."
Haruka giggled. "You sure? Everyone says she looks up to you."
"Yeah, Kiyopon's girlfriend is incredible," I added with a grin, fanning the flames.
Haruka laughed harder. "See? Even Miyamoto agrees!"
Ayanokōji sighed. "That's a misunderstanding."
Airi, sitting nearby, smiled nervously. "But… it's nice to have people you can rely on."
"True," I said. "That's what this group is. We rely on each other."
The words hung in the air a moment.Airi suddenly started laughing, but her eyes shimmered.
"What's so funny?" Haruka asked.
"I just…" Airi said through a giggle. "I'm happy. I never thought I'd have friends like this. People who actually… talk to me."
Her voice wavered, and tears welled up — happy tears, fragile but beautiful.
I handed her a tissue, smiling. "Then keep laughing with us, Airi. That's your job."
She nodded, wiping her eyes.
Yukimura pretended not to notice, but his small smile said enough.
"Alright," I clapped my hands. "Enough emotions for one night. Let's go eat something real."
"Finally!" Wataru said. "I was starving ten minutes ago."
The group grabbed their coats and scarves, stepping out into the cold evening air.Snowflakes drifted lazily down from the sky, melting against our warm breaths. The streets around the dorms glowed faintly from the lights of the nearby shops.
We headed toward a small restaurant near the mall — cozy, with warm light spilling out the windows.Inside, the chatter was gentle, the food steaming, and the laughter easy.
For a while, it felt like we were just normal students.
Halfway through dinner, Ayanokōji excused himself. "I'll be right back."
I watched him walk out, his steps too calm to just be heading to the restroom.
Without saying anything, I slipped away from the table and followed him — quiet enough not to draw attention.
A short distance away, near the vending machines behind the restaurant, Ayanokōji was standing in front of a girl with silver hair and cold eyes.
Kamuro Masumi — from Class A.
"…You've been tailing me," he said plainly.
Her expression didn't change. "I don't know what you mean."
"Then you're bad at hiding it," he said, his voice steady but sharp. "Sakayanagi must've sent you. What's she holding over you?"
Kamuro stiffened, eyes narrowing.
Ayanokōji continued, unfazed. "If you keep following me, I'll report that you're doing a poor job. You know what Sakayanagi will do when she finds out you failed her."
"Don't threaten me," Kamuro hissed. "If I tell Ryūen you're 'X', you're done."
He didn't even blink. "Then go ahead. But that'd break your deal with Sakayanagi. How long do you think she'd let you stay in her class after betraying her?"
Silence.Then Kamuro's shoulders slumped slightly — defeated.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"You can keep tailing me," he said. "But only report to Sakayanagi. Nothing to Ryūen, nothing to anyone else. Do that, and I'll stay silent about your weakness."
Kamuro glared, but eventually nodded. "Fine."
As she turned to leave, I stepped out from the shadows.
"So this is Sakayanagi's subordinate," I said lightly, leaning against the wall. "Didn't expect her to send such a cute spy."
Kamuro's eyes flicked toward me, annoyed but flustered. "You're… Miyamoto."
"Guilty," I said, smirking. "Bad girl type, huh? Guess that's one of my weaknesses."
She rolled her eyes and brushed past, leaving both of us behind.
Ayanokōji glanced at me, expression unreadable."You shouldn't have interfered."
"I wasn't interfering," I said. "Just curious."
He sighed softly. "Curiosity gets people in trouble here."
"Maybe," I said with a grin. "But trouble keeps things interesting."
When we returned to the restaurant, the others were still chatting, unaware of what had just transpired.The warmth, the laughter, the food — it all contrasted sharply with the cold, quiet tension outside.
Later that night, back in my room, I sat by the window. The snow had thickened, blanketing the campus in white. My phone buzzed with a new message — a meme from Haruka, a photo from Airi, a group chat full of light-hearted arguments about who'd pay next time.