The end of homeroom came with the usual tired sighs and the soft scrape of chairs against the floor. I was already half-thinking about lunch when the door suddenly slid open — and in walked trouble itself.
Ryuuen.
Behind him, Ishizaki, Albert, and a few other muscleheads followed like a pack of wolves. The entire class fell silent at once. Even Chabashira-sensei, who had been halfway through dismissing us, gave a long, knowing sigh before leaving the room.
I guess she could tell this wasn't a fight — yet.
Ryuuen stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, grin sharp and lazy."Well, well. Class D looks lively today."
I met Ayanokōji's eyes briefly. He looked as calm as ever — but I knew that, deep down, he was already analyzing every angle of this visit. I, on the other hand, was already on my feet.
I tilted my head and smirked. "Do we have a problem, mate?"
Behind me, my boys from the Miyamoto gang — Yukimura, Miyake, Okitani, and Ijuin — rose up as one, lining behind me like a small army. The air thickened fast.
Sudou, of course, was next to explode."You picked the wrong class to mess with, Ryuuen!" he barked, fists clenched, already stepping forward.
Hirata hurriedly jumped between them, hands raised, the peacemaker as always."Let's calm down. This isn't the time for violence," he said gently.
Ryuuen barely acknowledged him. His eyes were scanning the room — cold and sharp, like he was searching for something… or someone.
And then, without a word, Kouenji stood up. He didn't even look at Ryuuen. He just stretched, adjusted his hair, and walked past them like they didn't exist.
Ryuuen chuckled. "Hey, hey. You ignoring me, golden boy?"
Kouenji didn't even glance back. "I only respond to those worthy of my time."
Ouch.
Ryuuen's smirk widened. "Follow him."
Ishizaki and Albert immediately tailed Kouenji out the door.
Ayanokōji exhaled softly beside me. "He's moving fast."
"Yeah," I muttered. "Too fast for my liking."
Horikita crossed her arms. "You three—don't follow them. You'll only make things worse."
"Sorry," I said with a grin, already heading for the door. "But if there's a storm brewing, I want a front-row seat."
Miyake and Yukimura followed me without hesitation. Even Ayanokōji, calm as a shadow, decided to tag along.
"Sudou, you stay," Horikita ordered.
Sudou protested. "But—!"
"No buts."
I didn't hear the rest. We were already in the hallway, moving quick.
We followed Ryuuen's group all the way to the dorm area. Kouenji was surrounded now — Class C forming a loose circle around him like sharks closing in. He still looked utterly unfazed, hair perfectly combed, posture straight.
"Now then," Ryuuen said, stepping forward, "let's have a little chat. Just me and you."
Kouenji sighed dramatically. "I must decline. You see, I have a date shortly, and I cannot afford to waste my time with… common delinquents."
Even I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing. The guy was insane — and fearless.
Ryuuen's grin stretched wider. "Date, huh? Then let's make it quick."
He reached out and grabbed Kouenji's arm. The sound of cracking tension filled the air.
"Hey," I called out, stepping forward. "That's enough."
Ryuuen's gaze flicked toward me for half a second — just long enough for me to feel that cold, assessing stare. Then he turned back to Kouenji.
"You owe me, blondie. Because of your stunt during the Zodiac exam, Class C lost big time."
Kouenji frowned delicately, like Ryuuen had just insulted his hair. "Ah yes, the 'Zodiac' incident. Quite an amusing test. Though, if your class suffered, perhaps you simply weren't competent enough to overcome a single man's brilliance?"
Ryuuen's expression darkened. "You talk too much."
"And you grab too often," Kouenji replied. "Unhand me before I file a complaint for assault on beauty."
I snorted. Yukimura elbowed me to shut up.
Ryuuen smiled dangerously, then — without warning — snatched the mirror Kouenji had pulled from his pocket and hurled it to the ground. It shattered with a loud crack.
"Oh my," Kouenji said quietly. "That was an expensive mirror, you know. Imported from Italy."
Before things could escalate further, Horikita arrived, breathless from running. "Ryuuen! Stop this right now!"
He glanced at her lazily. "Relax, Horikita. I'm just talking."
She crouched to pick up the glass shards, but Sudou — who apparently ignored her earlier order — rushed forward to help. "You'll cut yourself. Leave it to me."
Ryuuen's smirk returned. "How touching."
That's when the air shifted again — a new presence stepping in.
Sakayanagi Arisu.
Flanked by Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Kitou, she approached with the calm confidence of a queen inspecting peasants.
"Well, isn't this lively?" she said, smiling faintly. "A gathering of Class D and Class C. Quite the coincidence."
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes. "You sure about that?"
She shrugged. "Oh, who can say? I was merely taking a walk."
She sat gracefully on a nearby bench, Kamuro standing protectively beside her.
Ryuuen clicked his tongue but didn't drive her away. Instead, he turned back to Kouenji. "You really think you're untouchable, huh?"
Kouenji adjusted his collar. "Untouchable? No. But I am… above certain things. Fighting, for example."
He smiled brightly, eyes gleaming. "However, should you insist, I'm not opposed to teaching barbarians some manners."
The entire area went tense again.
Ryuuen laughed under his breath. "You really are insane."
"Thank you," Kouenji said sincerely. "It's my most charming quality."
Ryuuen cracked his neck. "Fine. You're not X. You're too much of a narcissist to be working behind the scenes."
At the mention of "X", everyone tensed — even Ayanokōji's gaze sharpened slightly.
Sakayanagi tilted her head. "Oh? Still chasing ghosts, are we, Ryuuen-kun? Maybe X never existed in the first place."
Ryuuen glared at her. "He's real. And when I find him, I'll crush him. Even if I have to use violence or blackmail."
"How pitiful," Sakayanagi said sweetly. "Resorting to threats because you were outsmarted."
Her words struck deep — I could see Ryuuen's hand twitch.
Then, calmly, she added, "I already know about your arrangement with Katsuragi. Support for private points, correct? A convenient little deal, though I imagine it didn't last long."
Ryuuen's smirk faltered just slightly. "You talk too much."
"Oh, do I? Then you should've listened more carefully. After all, Katsuragi's fall only secured my rise."
Ryuuen stepped forward sharply, aiming a kick — but Hashimoto was faster. He blocked it instantly, though the motion made Ryuuen stumble backward.
Horikita shouted, "Stop it!"
But Sakayanagi only smiled, calm as ever. "Is there a problem, Horikita-san? I thought this was your show."
Horikita gritted her teeth, unable to respond.
Even I had to admit — Sakayanagi's control over the situation was terrifying. Every word she spoke twisted the tension tighter.
Kouenji, meanwhile, was polishing his hair again. "Children arguing over status… how tiresome."
"Children?" Sakayanagi echoed with amusement. "How rude. Though, I suppose coming from you, I should feel flattered."
Kouenji shrugged. "Don't be. My tastes lean towards more… mature company."
Sakayanagi laughed softly. "You certainly are unique, Kouenji-kun."
Kitou stepped forward, removing his gloves. "Permission to correct his behavior, Sakayanagi-sama?"
"Denied," she replied smoothly. "He's not worth the effort."
Kouenji smirked, clearly entertained. "Wise choice. You'd only embarrass yourself."
Ayanokōji muttered quietly beside me, "Sometimes I wonder if madness counts as strength."
I couldn't help but grin. "If it does, Kouenji's already Class S."
Ryuuen finally exhaled, shaking his head. "Whatever. I'm done here."
He glanced at Sakayanagi one last time. "Third semester's coming. Be ready, princess."
"I'll be waiting, Dragon Boy," she replied without missing a beat.
Ryuuen clicked his tongue and turned away, his lackeys following him. Kouenji dusted off his sleeves and began walking the opposite direction, humming a tune like none of this ever happened.
As the tension dissolved, I felt my shoulders finally relax.
Horikita sighed. "Unbelievable… all of them."
Ayanokōji said nothing, but his eyes were thoughtful.
Ryuuen's last words echoed faintly in my head — the show will be over soon… the grand finale approaching.