"A week has passed, and it seems you've had quite a fruitful harvest?" Ryuuen Kakeru scoffed, pushing himself off the wall and leaning slightly forward, his presence utterly imposing:
"Sakayanagi Arisu, are you still going to speak to me in such a condescending tone?"
The curve of his lips deepened, and his eyes held undisguised provocation.
"Don't you know what Class A has become? Sakamoto has probably already ridden over your head, hasn't he?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's fingertips tightened on her cane for a moment.
Ryuuen's words were filled with contempt and schadenfreude.
"That's why I need the information you've collected, Ryuuen-kun."
"It seems you really did get something... that made you lose your composure?"
"Lose my composure?"
Ryuuen shook his head as if he had heard a joke.
"I'm just stating facts. However..."
He changed the subject, lowering his voice a few notches.
"Regarding Sakamoto, I did dig up something interesting."
"Oh? I'm eager to hear the details."
"Do you know Sakamoto has been working part-time at a cafe recently?" Ryuuen asked directly.
Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled disdainfully:
"Heh, it would be strange if I didn't know. Most of the First Year students have already witnessed his 'graceful' figure there."
Ryuuen was unfazed by Sakayanagi's disdain. He shrugged and continued:
"He 'bought' that job with his private points. The purpose... isn't very clear, but he's probably trying to figure out the school's rules again?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's expression didn't change in the slightest:
"Ryuuen-kun, this information... doesn't seem that important. I believe anyone with a brain could deduce it."
"Alright, then I'll tell you something you probably can't deduce."
He leaned forward again, lowering his voice even further.
"Sakamoto, his gaze seems to be beyond Class A now. He's already cultivated his own base in other classes."
Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes narrowed instantly.
Sakamoto... planted people in other classes? That's unlikely.
With his solitary demeanor, as if he disdained social interaction, he couldn't possibly do such a thing.
But if Ryuuen dared to say it, he must have some basis.
"Oh?"
"Then, who is that person he planted in Class C?"
Ryuuen Kakeru's eyes held a hint of playfulness:
"No comment."
He said decisively.
"A spy appearing in Class C is an internal matter for our Class C; it's none of your business as someone from Class A."
Ryuuen's smug, deliberately teasing attitude made a surge of anger rise in her heart.
In the depths of her eyes, a cold glint almost overflowed.
"Hmph."
Ryuuen seemed to enjoy Sakayanagi's suppressed anger at that moment. He chuckled lightly and slowly added:
"Don't be so impatient, Sakayanagi Arisu. I'm not finished yet."
He paused, his gaze fixed on Sakayanagi.
"Sakamoto... has also cultivated subordinates in Class A who act for him."
"Who is it?" Sakayanagi Arisu's voice suddenly turned cold.
Ryuuen Kakeru's smile instantly became sinister. He stared into Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes and, enunciating each word clearly, uttered the name:
"Kamuro Masumi."
"That purple-haired girl who follows him around like a shadow all day, staring at him in the cafe... she's probably Sakamoto's dog by now."
first year o enrollment: Chapter 042: Sakamoto After School
Ryuuen Kakeru, with that triumphant smile of "everything is under control," turned and left the dim corridor without a backward glance.
His footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Sakayanagi Arisu standing alone.
Silence returned to the corridor.
The cold anger on Sakayanagi Arisu's face did not last long.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, concealing the turmoil in her eyes.
Kamuro Masumi?
Sakamoto's dog?
This accusation was too sensational,
and too much in line with Ryuuen's vulgar taste.
Sakayanagi Arisu took a deep breath, forcing herself to detach from the provoked emotion.
Her brain began to churn rapidly, calmly re-examining all the information Ryuuen had brought.
The surface information, such as purchasing the right to work part-time at the cafe with points,
was indeed as she said; anyone with a bit of intelligence could deduce or observe it, making its value limited.
Class C has a spy planted by Sakamoto?
Ryuuen refused to reveal the name, his attitude firm.
There were two possibilities: one, it was true, and Ryuuen intended to clean up his own house;
two, Ryuuen was being deliberately mysterious, using vague information to tease her and increase his leverage.
And finally, the most crucial—Kamuro Masumi is Sakamoto's subordinate in Class A.
This information... Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers unconsciously rubbed the smooth shaft of her cane.
She recalled the scene she witnessed in the convenience store at the beginning of the school year:
Kamuro Masumi attempted to steal, and Sakamoto "caught" and resolved the situation with an almost "magical" method.
That incident could indeed constitute a "handle" or an "opportunity."
If Sakamoto blackmailed her, or if Kamuro, out of gratitude or fear, could indeed be manipulated by Sakamoto.
But,
it doesn't make sense.
Sakayanagi Arisu's brows furrowed slightly.
Throughout this past week, she had observed coldly.
Sakamoto was indeed the epitome of a lone wolf.
He was never short of eyes around him and people trying to get close, but he always maintained an invisible distance.
His elegance and kindness were superficial; his core was an unfathomable solitude.
Would such a person bother to "cultivate" a seemingly ordinary "subordinate" like Kamuro Masumi?
What would be the purpose?
More importantly,
Ryuuen Kakeru.
Ryuuen's triumphant, provocative, and even malicious expression from earlier flashed in Sakayanagi Arisu's mind.
This guy was definitely not to be trifled with.
Sakayanagi had absolutely underestimated him.
His ability to integrate Class C within a week, his cunning and methods, were far beyond those of ordinary students.
The information he provided, especially such "bombshell news" capable of causing an internal earthquake in Class A, must be taken with a grain of salt.
He was very likely using her, trying to use her to test or even strike at Sakamoto, thereby benefiting Class C from Class A's internal strife.
Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth.
That was the most cunning lie.
Ryuuen didn't need to confirm that the information was 100% true.
He only needed to throw out enough shocking, thought-provoking "possibilities" to plant seeds of suspicion between her and Sakamoto.
Whether these seeds would sprout or not, as long as she took action because of them, Ryuuen would succeed—
He proved that Sakamoto was not unshakeable, and successfully muddied the waters.
"Heh..."
Sakayanagi Arisu gave a self-deprecating laugh:
"Did I make a misstep...?"
She almost got carried away by Ryuuen's crude provocation and flawed information.
It seemed the pressure from Sakamoto had indeed made her lose her composure somewhat.
During the afternoon classes, Sakayanagi Arisu appeared to be listening attentively, but her mind had already wandered far away.
Her gaze occasionally swept, seemingly unintentionally, over Sakamoto by the window, and Kamuro Masumi not far away.
Sakamoto remained calm and unruffled, listening to the lecture, taking notes, occasionally answering the teacher's questions.
His demeanor was elegant and composed, as if everything was under his control.
Kamuro Masumi, on the other hand, spent most of the time with her head down, her purple hair falling to cover her profile, making her expression unreadable.
But she seemed a bit distracted?
Her fingertips occasionally curled unconsciously, as if she was uneasy or hesitant about something.
These subtle gestures were infinitely magnified in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes.
Was it guilt?
Or something else?
The dismissal bell finally rang, signaling the end of the day's classes.
The atmosphere in the classroom instantly became lively.
Students began packing their bags, discussing their evening plans.
Sakamoto's movements were as smooth as ever.
He closed his book, neatly placed it in his bag, then stood up, his movements without the slightest delay, as if precisely calculated, preparing to leave.
Sakayanagi Arisu also stood up at almost the same time.
She decided not to dwell on the truth or falsehood of Ryuuen's information.
Instead of guessing, it was better to make direct contact. She would personally go and talk to Sakamoto, to test him in her own way.
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