The final day of the second semester arrived with the winter chill biting softly through the clear skies. For most students, it was a day to relax, laugh, and prepare for vacation. But for Ryuuen Kakeru, it was the day he had long been waiting for — the day to draw out X, the unseen mastermind who had humiliated him since the island test.
For Ryuuen, it wasn't about class points anymore. It was something deeper — pride, obsession, even something disturbingly close to love.
"It's time to strike," he said quietly, his voice cold and deliberate.
Even his followers — Ishizaki, Ibuki, and Albert — didn't know the full details. He had kept everything to himself, fearing that a single loose tongue could ruin the operation. The only person who dared to question him was Hiyori Shiina.
"Ryuuen-kun… you're planning something again, aren't you?" she asked softly, closing her book as she met his eyes.
"Sharp as ever, Shiina. Want to join in?" he smirked.
She shook her head, unbothered by his grin. "No. You know I dislike violence. If anything goes wrong, come talk to me in the library. I'll be there until the evening."
Ryuuen tilted his head slightly, watching her leave. He respected her intelligence but found her nature too gentle — too unwilling to get her hands dirty. That kind of person, he thought, would never be able to reach the top. To him, loyalty built on fear and control was easier to handle than loyalty built on friendship.
And so, with his three loyal subordinates in tow, he prepared for the cruelest scene of all. They carried with them a small black bag — inside were the tools that would shake even the heart of this "civilized" school.
That afternoon, I was lounging in my dorm room, half-asleep and half-annoyed. Ibuki had once again stolen my bed after a "short nap" turned into a full-night sleepover. I was still on the floor, using my jacket as a blanket.
"If she keeps this up, I'll have to charge rent," I muttered.
When she didn't show up that morning, I had a weird feeling in my chest. The room felt strangely quiet. Something told me she wasn't just out shopping.
So I followed. Quietly. No messages, no questions — just instinct. I had a hunch that Ryuuen was planning something dangerous again.
At around 2:00 PM, Ryuuen stood on the deserted rooftop, the cold wind whipping his coat. He stared at his phone, reading the message he had sent to Karuizawa Kei — the perfect bait.
He knew she'd come.
Her secret — the trauma of her past bullying — was a weapon sharper than any knife. And Ryuuen knew exactly how to twist it.
"Will she really come?" Ishizaki asked, shivering slightly despite his tough-guy act.
"She'll come," Ryuuen said confidently. "Because she has no choice."
Ibuki crossed her arms, uneasy. "And if she tells the school?"
"She won't. She knows what'll happen if she does." His smirk deepened, that dangerous look in his eyes returning.
Then, without warning, he pulled out a can of black spray paint and aimed it at the nearby security camera.
Psssshhh.
The lens went dark.
"Didn't the school punish you for that last time?" Ibuki asked, frowning.
"Only made me clean it up," he shrugged. "They don't check these cameras in real time. We have plenty of time before they notice."
His casual tone sent chills down even Ishizaki's spine. Ryuuen was completely in control — of the situation, of their fear, and of the pace of everything around him.
Moments later, the rooftop door creaked open.Karuizawa Kei stepped in hesitantly, dressed in her usual casual attire, the wind tugging at her hair.
"So you actually came," Ryuuen said with a grin. "I was worried you'd lost your courage."
Karuizawa crossed her arms, feigning confidence. "I don't know what you're talking about. What do you want from me?"
Ryuuen chuckled. "You're a terrible actress, Karuizawa. But that's fine. I didn't call you here for your acting skills."
Ibuki shifted uncomfortably, glancing at me hiding behind the stairway door. I could tell she didn't want to be here either, but she wouldn't disobey Ryuuen.
"Ryuuen, this is going too far," she muttered under her breath.
"Quiet, Ibuki." His tone was sharp. "Don't tell me you're growing a conscience now."
He stepped closer to Karuizawa, his eyes cold and analytical. "You know, I always wondered how you managed to keep your position as queen of Class D. That's when I realized… you had help. Someone pulling the strings behind you."
Karuizawa's face stiffened. "I—I don't know what you're talking about."
Ryuuen smirked. "Don't play dumb. I've seen your emails. I know how X used you — how he manipulated Manabe, how he protected you, how he promised to save you when things got rough."
Her eyes widened. "How do you…?"
Before she could finish, Ryuuen snapped his fingers. "Ibuki. Hold her down."
Ibuki hesitated for a moment, but then moved forward and pinned Karuizawa's arms.
"Sorry," Ibuki whispered, almost too quietly to hear.
Karuizawa struggled, shouting, "Let go of me! You're insane, Ryuuen!"
But he ignored her, his grin widening. "You know what's funny? Even after all this time, you still think someone will come save you. X won't move. He's a coward, hiding behind you. Let's see how far his promises go."
He motioned to Ishizaki. "Two buckets of water. Now."
When Ishizaki returned, holding the buckets, Karuizawa's eyes went wide with fear.
"Wait—what are you—"
SPLASH.
The icy water hit her like a knife. She gasped, shivering uncontrollably as her breath came out in short bursts. Her soaked hair clung to her face as she tried to steady herself.
Ryuuen crouched beside her, smiling calmly. "Cold, isn't it? That's fear. That's weakness. The same weakness you've been hiding all this time."
He leaned closer, his tone almost gentle — but filled with venom. "How long do you think you can keep pretending to be strong, Karuizawa?"
Ibuki turned her face away, clearly uncomfortable. Ishizaki looked uncertain. Even Albert frowned slightly. But Ryuuen… he was enjoying every second.
Again, another SPLASH.
"Stop! Please!" she screamed, trembling violently.
Ryuuen tilted his head, eyes glinting with a cruel light. "You should be used to this, right? After all, you were bullied for years before coming here. This isn't new for you."
He yanked her by the arm, forcing her to look up. "I know everything about your past, Karuizawa Kei. Everything."
Another bucket of water was poured. Four in total. Her lips quivered, her voice cracked. She wasn't just cold — she was breaking.
From my hiding spot, I felt my fists clench.
"Damn it, Ryuuen… this isn't even a test anymore. It's torture."
But still, I didn't move. I couldn't. Not yet.
Her mind began to drift. The world felt heavy. She thought of her past — the laughter, the whispers, the hands that pushed her down. The cruel girls who called her names. The pain she thought she'd escaped.
"Why… why is it happening again?"
Tears mixed with the water dripping from her chin. Ryuuen's voice echoed in her mind, but all she could think of was one person.
Ayanokōji.
"Did you abandon me too?"
She remembered his calm eyes, his quiet words — his promise to save her if anything happened.
Ryuuen leaned in, his tone mocking. "Oh, you're still waiting for him? X won't save you. He used you, just like everyone else. He set you up that day on the ship. You were just bait."
Her heart ached. For a moment, she almost believed him.
"Taka…" she murmured weakly, the first syllable of his name slipping out.
But then she stopped. Her trembling eased. A strange calm washed over her face.
"No," she whispered, her voice faint but steady. "Even if he used me… I don't care. Because I chose to help him. I did it because I wanted to. And it was… fun."
Ryuuen froze. For a brief moment, even he didn't know what to say.
Her eyes, red and swollen, looked straight into his. "You can do whatever you want. I'm not telling you his name."
Silence fell over the rooftop. The wind howled softly.
Ryuuen's smirk returned, though his eyes burned with fury. "So be it, Karuizawa Kei. Then I'll break you completely."
From the shadows, I could see her body trembling, but her spirit — fragile as it was — didn't break.