The wind atop the rooftop bit sharply against my face as I peeked through the door crack.Karuizawa was trembling, soaked and broken, while Ryuuen stood there like a dark king surveying his domain.
I gritted my teeth.
"This idiot really went full supervillain, huh? If I don't do something now, she's done for."
I glanced at my phone. No reply yet.
"Come on, Ayanokōji… You're supposed to be the mastermind, right? Save your little girlfriend already."
My thumbs typed quickly:
"Rooftop. Karuizawa in trouble. Ryuuen's gone psycho. Hurry up, genius."
I hit send. No time to wait.
If I stood there any longer, I'd hate myself later. So, before logic could catch up to my feet, I kicked the door open.
The sudden clang echoed across the rooftop.Everyone's heads snapped toward me — even Ryuuen's men froze mid-breath.
Karuizawa's eyes widened instantly, a faint flicker of relief flashing through the fear.
"Miyamoto…?"
Yeah, it was stupid. But seeing her look at me like that, like I was some kind of hero, made my stomach twist.
Ibuki's mouth dropped open. "You?!"
Ryuuen blinked in confusion for a second before his face twisted into amusement.He tilted his head, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"And what does this mean? Why are you here?"
Before I could think of a proper excuse, Albert — the mountain of a man beside him — rumbled in his deep voice:
"He said he was X."
The rooftop went silent. Even the wind stopped for a second.
"Hah?"
Ryuuen's brow twitched. He turned toward Albert, eyes narrowing.
"He said what?"
Albert nodded earnestly. "He said he is X. The one you're looking for."
…
I blinked.
"Wait. What? No, no, that was a joke! How do you misunderstand sarcasm, big guy?"
Ryuuen pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly losing patience.
"So, you're the one claiming to be the mysterious puppet master I've been chasing all year?"
I raised both hands quickly. "Haha, yeah, about that — I made a wrong turn. Wrong rooftop. I'll just, uh, see myself out?"
He glared. "Then get out."
"Great idea!" I said cheerfully and started walking toward the stairs.Karuizawa's eyes followed me desperately — pleading, trembling.
That look froze my steps.She wasn't crying because she was scared anymore. She was crying because she thought I was leaving her behind.
"Damn it…"
I turned halfway, forcing a grin. "You guys really have some weird hobbies, you know that?"
"Stop."
Ryuuen's voice cut through the air like a whip.
I turned back slowly. "Uh… yes? Something else, boss?"
Ishizaki laughed. "With that attitude, you still think you can oppose Ryuuen-san? You must have a death wish!"
Ryuuen's sharp eyes locked on me like a snake sizing up its prey.
"If you don't want to suffer, keep your mouth shut about what you saw here. Understand?"
I tilted my head. "Well, see… that might be a bit hard. How about a deal instead?"
His smirk faltered slightly. "A deal?"
"Yeah." I shrugged. "You let Karuizawa go, and I pretend this little horror movie never happened. Everyone wins."
The others looked confused. Ishizaki sneered. Ibuki bit her lip.Ryuuen, though, looked amused — the kind of amusement that promised pain.
He stepped closer, hands in his pockets.
"You want to negotiate with me? Negotiation only works between equals, Miyamoto."
"Well, that's what I'm trying to fix," I said casually. "If I go tell the school what's happening here, none of you walk away clean. You'll all get expelled. So yeah, I'd say I have some leverage."
For a moment, no one spoke. The logic hung in the air like smoke. Even Ryuuen's grin faltered slightly.
Then —
"Grab him."
Before I could move, Albert's massive arms wrapped around me from behind like steel cables, lifting me right off my feet.
"Woah! Easy, easy! I just had lunch, man!" I squirmed. "You're seriously built like a tank!"
Albert didn't say a word, just held me effortlessly as if I were a kid.
Ryuuen stepped closer until his breath was practically on my face. "If you think blackmailing me is going to save her, you're dumber than I thought."
I smirked, trying to mask my racing pulse. "Maybe. But it was worth trying once, right?"
Ryuuen's eyes narrowed, analyzing every word. He was used to fear — not sarcasm.
I continued, my tone deliberately calm.
"You've already poured water on her. You think you can hide that? Even if you delete the footage, people talk. Rumors spread. Teachers investigate. And when they do… you're done."
He chuckled darkly. "You really think you can scare me with that?"
"No," I replied, smiling faintly. "But I think you are scared. That's why you're rushing."
Ryuuen's smile disappeared. For a second, the only sound was the howling wind and Karuizawa's quiet breathing.
Then he exhaled slowly. "You're an interesting one, Miyamoto. I'll give you that."
He waved a hand, and Albert reluctantly set me down. My legs nearly buckled, but I straightened.
Ryuuen continued, pacing slowly around me.
"Even if you tell the school, you can't prove anything. I already disabled the cameras. There's no evidence."
I folded my arms. "Then it'll be your word against mine. Who do you think the school will believe when they find Karuizawa crying and half-frozen on the roof?"
He stopped pacing, eyes sharp. "You think I won't just silence both of you right now?"
"Then do it," I said, voice low. "But you know the second you cross that line, there's no going back. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you like control too much to lose it."
A flicker passed through his eyes — irritation, hesitation. He hated being read like a book.
Ibuki glanced at him nervously. Ishizaki looked unsure. Even Albert's expression softened slightly.
For a brief moment, the unshakable aura of Ryuuen cracked.
I turned toward Karuizawa, who was sitting weakly on the floor, shivering. "You're scared of him, yeah. But that's not the real problem."
Ryuuen frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"She's not afraid of you," I said quietly. "She's afraid of everyone else. She's terrified of people finding out she's weak. That she's been bullied before. You're not her trauma, Ryuuen — you're just the latest version of it."
He blinked, thrown off by the words.
Karuizawa looked up, eyes wide and wet.
"What she's scared of," I continued, "is the atmosphere. The pressure to pretend she's fine. To keep smiling even when she's breaking inside. You think you're teaching her a lesson, but you're just proving her right — that people are cruel."
Ryuuen's jaw tightened. "You think you understand her?"
I met his gaze, steady and cold. "More than you ever will."
He didn't reply.
The silence stretched until the tension felt like a physical weight pressing down on us.
Then I spoke again, softly:
"If you keep this up, I'll expose you. And if you let her go, I'll walk away, pretend none of this happened. Take your pick, Ryuuen. It's your move."
He narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think I'll believe that?"
"Because the person you're looking for," I said, "doesn't even know this is happening. Whether Karuizawa talks or not won't change anything. X will come if he wants to. Or he won't. Either way, this? This is just noise."
Ryuuen's smirk slowly returned.
"Heh. You talk big for someone who's trembling."
"Yeah," I said with a shrug, "but that's just the wind."
For a moment, his expression softened — amusement, curiosity, something like grudging respect.He turned his back on me, exhaling through his nose.
"Fine," he muttered. "You've bought her a little time. But if your 'X' doesn't show up soon…"
He looked over his shoulder, the grin back on his face.
"I'll make sure both of you regret it."
As he spoke, my phone buzzed in my pocket.A message.
Ayanokōji: "I'm on my way."
I smiled faintly. "Good timing, genius."
The real storm was just beginning.