In the gloom, Ren's bright red eyes were impossible to miss.
Beside him, a massive white tiger lay crouched low in a hunter's stance, her eyes glowing faintly green.
"Grr…"
Feeling the stares of the three people in the alley, Koharu bared her teeth and gave a low warning growl.
Ren slipped his phone back into his pocket and smiled at Manabu Horikita. "Careful of what, President Horikita? You didn't finish your sentence."
Manabu swallowed what he'd been about to say. Keeping his eyes on Ren, he lowered into a guarded stance.
"Ren, I think… keeping a large predator like that on campus violates school rules, doesn't it?"
Manabu wasn't the only one on edge. Behind him, Ayanokōji also shifted into a defensive posture, while Suzune Horikita stared at the giant tiger, stunned.
What is that…?
Why is something like this allowed at school? Does the administration not care?
Nothing was more unsettling than a predator staring you down while coiled to pounce—especially when it did so openly.
"President Horikita, let's not start rumors. Koharu has a school-issued permit, don't you, girl?" Ren stroked Koharu's head as if nothing were wrong.
Koharu leaned into his hand. Her tail, which had been hanging low, began to swish with pleasure.
"Hff—"
Whatever tension she'd felt a moment ago seemed to vanish. Her muscles loosened, and she turned affectionate, pressing closer to Ren.
"Alright, alright. We'll play more when we're back. Be good." Ren gave her a light pat, stood, and walked into the alley toward the three of them.
Koharu rose as well, padding at his side.
"President Horikita. Horikita. Ayanokōji." Ren greeted them casually. "Funny running into you again so soon."
"Funny indeed, Ren," Manabu replied stiffly, still under Koharu's stare.
Ayanokōji's expression didn't change, but his body stayed tight under his uniform—ready to move at any moment.
Suzune, once she recovered from the shock, was noticeably bolder. "Ren, the school wouldn't allow a student to keep—"
She wasn't about to waste an opening to pressure another class. Ren had practically handed her a weakness.
Ren didn't let her finish. He pulled out his phone and brought up the two permits—each one costing 150,000 points—that Hoshinomiya-sensei had arranged for him back then.
"Sorry, Horikita. Looks like the school does allow it. Koharu's permit is already approved."
He kept smiling as he stroked Koharu's head. "Everything's in order. Don't try to make a scene over Koharu, or I won't be happy."
"Right, girl?"
Koharu gave a soft, rumbling sound in her throat and nudged into his hand.
Suzune looked like she still wanted to argue, but Manabu stepped in front of her and drew her behind him, shielding her from both Ren and Koharu.
Manabu didn't believe for a second that Ren had just happened to pass by.
"Ren," he said evenly, "what do you want?"
Ayanokōji moved a few steps closer to Manabu so he could hear more clearly.
This Ren from Class A… the pressure he gave off reminded Ayanokōji of Kōenji—an arrogance that didn't come from bluster, but certainty.
"What do I want?" Ren tilted his head. "That's what I should be asking you, President Horikita."
"In the middle of the night, in a dark alley—what exactly were you doing with that cute little first-year?"
Ren opened his photo album and pulled up the earlier scene: Manabu pinning Suzune against the wall, their faces inches apart. He cranked the brightness to maximum and waved the screen in front of Manabu.
"From that close, you're either about to kiss… or you're about to fight."
"Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Student Council President?"
Manabu went silent. He knew any explanation would be pointless—Ren wasn't interested in the truth.
Just like the incident with Class C, Ren only needed leverage—something that looked like proof. Whether it was real didn't matter. Even if someone were innocent, Ren would still paint them as guilty.
"Ren, what are you talking about?" Suzune blurted out as she stepped forward. "We're siblings—blood siblings!"
Her thoughts were a mess. Unlike her brother, she didn't grasp the deeper intent behind Ren's words. She genuinely thought Ren was standing up for her.
And she couldn't stand the idea of her brother's reputation being damaged because of her.
"Enough, Suzune," Manabu snapped, cutting her off. He pulled her behind him again.
Suzune was out of her depth. She was too straightforward for this kind of situation.
Ren listened to her explanation, nodded as if he'd learned something, and then his smile turned sharp.
"So it's incest." He sounded delighted. "That's even more interesting."
Manabu felt a headache coming on.
He'd asked Suzune here tonight to warn her to stay away from Ren—and now, with a single mistake, he'd let her get dragged into something far worse.
Or maybe it hadn't been a mistake at all.
Maybe Ren had arranged this from the start.
Suzune tried to speak again, but Ayanokōji murmured beside her, "Don't. You can't fix this. Let the president handle it."
She froze, clenched her jaw, and fell silent. She hated it—but she understood he was right. For now, this was a contest between her brother and Ren, and she wasn't qualified to step onto the board.
"Ren," Manabu said at last, "name your terms."
If the photo got out, Manabu could probably endure it. He was a third-year; he'd be gone next year. Rumors wouldn't matter much.
But Suzune was different. She was only a first-year. If something like this spread—
She'd be stuck carrying that baseless stain for the next three years.
Manabu hoped he could settle it with points.
But he'd forgotten something important: Ren didn't lack points.
"The Student Council presidency."
Ren finally showed his fangs—reaching straight for the scepter that kept Manabu firmly in control.
Manabu rejected it instantly. "No."
He had intended to leave that position to Suzune. And even if that weren't the case, he couldn't give it up.
Third-year Class A was suppressing the other three classes with everything it had. If he lost the presidency, his influence would shrink. His control would weaken. The others would find openings.
It was a crucial asset for graduating without upheaval.
"Then there's nothing to talk about."
Ren's smile didn't waver. "President Horikita, look forward to what comes next. I'm about to come after you."
He didn't bargain. He didn't wait for a counteroffer. Ren turned and walked away, leaving Manabu no room to negotiate.
The small "surprise" tonight had put him in an excellent mood. He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to the top of Koharu's head.
"Good girl. Let's go home."
Koharu flicked her tail and stayed glued to his side.
On the way back, Ren led Koharu at an unhurried pace, enjoying the quiet of the night.
Until he spotted a familiar face sitting alone on a bench by the roadside…
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The Black Dragon of the Katsuragi Family now has 196 chapters.
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