Subaru didn't go into great detail with Hiyori.
After all, Subaru knew very well that unless it was a special circumstance, Hiyori did not want to get involved in the competition between classes, or rather... the class competition related to Subaru.
Because the distinction between the class and the individual is not absolute; the class itself is a collective composed of individuals.
It is not an easy task to draw a clear line.
In any case, Hiyori felt she didn't have the ability to make such a clear distinction.
However, this did not mean Hiyori was a 'lone wolf' independent of the class.
Hiyori belonged to the type in Class C who kept to themselves. At a cursory glance, she was similar to Horikita when she first enrolled—neither wanted to interact much with others, preferring to stay alone and do things they liked.
But in reality, Hiyori and Horikita could almost be said to be two extremes.
There is no need to say much about Horikita; although Hiyori spent a lot of time alone, it didn't mean she was antisocial. In fact, Hiyori's status in Class C was not low.
Back in May, when everyone was working hard for the midterm exams, Hiyori took out quite a bit of time to help those classmates in Class C with poor grades study.
Hiyori was contributing to Class C in her own way.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for Ryuen to allow an existence like Hiyori, who was transcendent and uncontrolled, to appear in the class he controlled.
"Yo, Natsuki."
Subaru had just put down his student terminal when Ryuen's voice came from behind him.
"It's Ryuen-kun."
Subaru turned his head slightly. What came into view was Ryuen, wearing that signature, aggressive smile on his face.
Several other students from Class C were following behind him.
"I heard that over on Horikita's side, they seem to have encountered some accidents, huh?"
Ryuen's eyes reflected Subaru's face, seemingly wanting to capture some emotional fluctuation from it.
However, what responded to him was still Subaru's expression that seemed detached from everything.
"It seems so. I'll go check on her situation in a little while."
Subaru answered with a smile, but within that smile, there seemed to be something hidden that Ryuen could not understand.
"Your reaction... you don't seem to care very much, do you? Isn't your relationship with Horikita very good?"
Ryuen narrowed his eyes slightly, continuing to observe Subaru.
He had arranged the surprise attack on Horikita, but in essence, Subaru was the person he was truly focusing on.
Ryuen did not plan to make a move directly on Subaru at the start, because even after a few contacts, he was still unsure of the other party's background.
Since that was the case, Ryuen prepared to strike at the people around Subaru.
Horikita was the most suitable target.
On one hand, Horikita was precisely the person in charge of Class D's recent operations.
On the other hand, in Ryuen's eyes, Horikita was someone very close to Subaru.
He wanted to see what kind of action Subaru would take after seeing the people around him being targeted.
Subaru just took a sip of his drink first, then said to Ryuen:
"Have you eaten? If not, I can treat you. After all, I was indebted to you for the treat last time."
"Natsuki, that high-and-mighty look of yours really pisses people off, you know? Have you really never thought that someone could tear that current look of yours to shreds?"
Ryuen sat in the seat opposite Subaru. He pulled the chair out, making an incredibly ear-piercing sound, and propped his legs up on the table, looking no different from a gang member.
The other lackeys from Class C stood obediently to the side.
"Sorry, I haven't thought about that aspect."
Subaru simply smiled and shook his head, but soon, his gaze fell upon Ryuen.
"But if you can really do it, I am indeed very much looking forward to it."
Ryuen frowned, looking at the boy of the same age in front of him. Their gazes collided.
The other party's look... it didn't seem like mockery, but rather...
A heartfelt expectation.
Even Ryuen felt a wave of creepiness from Subaru's gaze.
That was a feeling as if he were high above, holding everyone around him in the palm of his hand.
Was it arrogance?
No, it wasn't. It was something else Ryuen had never seen before.
Ryuen was born at the bottom of society. To survive, he used unscrupulous means and defeated countless people.
But he had never seen a guy like Subaru.
However...
That fire in his heart ignited once again.
In his heart, Ryuen wanted to tear Subaru apart more and more, impatient to see the other party kneeling in despair.
"Nice eyes, Ryuen-kun."
"You're still as arrogant as last time. Regarding what happened this time, didn't you feel any surprise?"
"Surprise? Not really. After all, since Horikita chose this course of action, encountering similar things afterwards is all within expectation. However, if we're getting to the bottom of it, I did develop a slight interest in this matter, so I delayed a little bit of time."
Subaru said.
Ryuen's brow furrowed.
Subaru's reaction was not among any he had anticipated—no panic, no anger, no feigned calm.
"You really are a bastard through and through, Natsuki Subaru."
Ryuen shouted the other party's full name.
"Watching a classmate being treated like that, yet you can still say such things."
"So what? No matter who it is, there isn't much difference... Of course, there are indeed people who make me feel a difference."
Subaru answered.
Hiyori Shiina, Kikyo Kushida...
Perhaps the Ryuen in front of him could become one.
"As for the others, it doesn't matter."
"Even Horikita doesn't matter?"
"It doesn't matter."
Subaru answered without hesitation.
Horikita was indeed a slightly different existence.
However, only slightly.
No color. Not pure enough.
In the end, that was all she was.
Subaru couldn't help but recall his past.
Halibel was indeed a subordinate who had always been loyal to him.
No matter what the task, he would complete it, and his loyalty was undivided.
But he, too, had no color.
"As expected of you. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to spend points to expel his own classmates."
"Because I don't like boring people. Their existence is not important to me, but their absence is very important to me."
Subaru picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. His chewing motion didn't pause in the slightest. After swallowing, he spoke slowly:
"Ryuen-kun, do you know? When you say things like that, it actually makes me feel a bit... bored."
He put down his chopsticks and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
"Threats and targeting... if they just float on the surface, provoking for the sake of provoking, then there is no difference from the intimidation of a street thug. The more real you that I look forward to is something more thorough, more resolute. I previously thought you were truly someone who would stop at nothing. If you're merely referring to this splashing-water level of prank, or using irrelevant people to test me... then those so-called ruthless words are nothing but the jokes of a child."
His tone still didn't have any fluctuations, but the content of his words stung like an ice pick.
Subaru would not make a move proactively, but he also hoped that Ryuen would face him directly.
Only after the opponent made a move would Subaru counterattack.
If...
If Ryuen could still maintain his current self after experiencing his counterattack, then in Subaru's heart, he should be able to gain the same status as Kikyo.
If he could persist even more times...
Perhaps he might even become an existence equal to Hiyori, or even reach a higher level.
In that case, this school would be a little more interesting.
But judging by the current development, Ryuen was not yet qualified.
Far from enough.
"Are you looking down on me?"
Ryuen's voice turned cold. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a dangerous gloominess.
"No."
Subaru shook his head, revealing a meaningful smile once again.
"I am giving you a chance, Ryuen-kun. If you really want to make me recognize reality, if you want to tear this face of mine that you hate to shreds, then bring out something decent. Splashing water? Harassment? And only acting against the people around me? Just this level can't even make me perk up slightly. This only makes me feel that your so-called purity... might also be mixed with too much moisture of bluffing."
The air in this corner of the cafeteria seemed to freeze.
Ibuki unconsciously thrust her hands into her pockets. The muscles under Albert's sunglasses tensed slightly; he unconsciously took a few steps and stood behind Subaru.
They could all feel the anger radiating from Ryuen climbing.
If Ryuen wanted to make a move in a moment, his position could prevent Subaru from escaping.
As Albert thought this, he looked at Subaru, carefully observing his every move.
But what entered his eyes was a gaze as sharp as a blade, as if it were going to dissect him layer by layer.
That was a look belonging to Subaru.
Subaru turned his head slightly and spoke slowly to Albert.
"Sunglasses-wearer. If you stand behind me for one more second, I will kill you."
Those words were also incomparably cold, sounding like a funeral eulogy.
A terrifying killing intent permeated the air in an instant. Albert's body trembled slightly; he was completely frightened by Subaru's appearance and couldn't help but retreat a few steps.
Only after coming back to his senses did he realize his loss of composure, and he hurriedly turned his head to look at Ryuen.
Albert was afraid of Ryuen in his heart...
But in those few seconds just now, Albert's fear of Subaru surpassed his fear of Ryuen.
Ryuen frowned as he looked at Subaru.
Just now, he had also felt that aura, even more intensely than Albert.
He knew clearly that it was genuine killing intent, not something that could be bluffed.
In that instant, Ryuen could determine that Subaru truly had the thought of killing Albert in his heart.
There were quite a few surveillance cameras here.
What's more, it wasn't just a thought of teaching the other party a lesson; it was killing intent.
This guy...
Subaru didn't like others standing behind him.
Once, Halibel had stood behind him for just one second, and the thought of killing the other party had seriously arisen in his heart.
Even though the other party was his most capable subordinate.
Just now, there really was a thought of tossing a coin once.
However, after seeing Albert leave, Subaru's face returned to normal, as if he had split into two people compared to just now. He turned his head to look at Ryuen and continued:
"Horikita is going to negotiate with Ichinose later. Have you thought of a countermeasure for what follows?"
"Negotiation? That kind of cooperation is simply too laughable."
"Perhaps. But one must always find some amusement early on. After all, this place is too boring. I'm preparing to go over and take a look; maybe something interesting will happen, so I'll leave first."
He stood up and shook the drink that was about to be finished.
"So, Ryuen-kun, next time, if you want to make a move, please come directly at me. Use the most thorough method you can think of... Don't disappoint me too much. I'm looking forward to your performance very much, Ryuen-kun."
He tilted his head slightly, glancing at Ryuen.
Within his eyes was a trace of expectation.
Ryuen was a stone.
Carve him continuously.
Inside, would there be color?
"You will definitely regret saying those words, Natsuki Subaru. You will definitely kneel before me."
Ryuen responded with a cold sneer.
"I'm looking forward to it."
After saying this sentence, Subaru left the cafeteria.
Ryuen, on the other hand, did not say a word, sitting silently in his chair.
He had originally wanted to use Horikita as a breakthrough point to test Subaru.
But he had gained nothing.
This guy's heart... could not be seen through.
"Ryuen, what do you plan to do next?"
Ibuki pursed her lips, looking at Ryuen with some concern.
If it were usual, Ryuen would have definitely exploded upon hearing those words.
But Ryuen didn't make a sound.
"Hahaha, hahahahaha!"
Just at this moment, Ryuen laughed. He raised his head, his hand resting on his forehead.
"Interesting. It's much more interesting than the last contact."
"Since he begged so much, then I will definitely satisfy him."
"I can't wait to see the way he looks kneeling in front of me."
A smile appeared on Ryuen's face again, and the fire in his heart burned even more vigorously.
Natsuki Subaru.
I will make you regret it! I will make you despair!
I will pull you down from your high-and-mighty detachment and smash you to pieces.
Ryuen clenched his fists, shouting continuously in his heart.
No matter what kind of powerhouse, they had all been defeated by his hands.
Natsuki Subaru would absolutely not be an exception.
"There are two people with abnormal brains."
Ibuki just sighed somewhat helplessly and shook her head.
____
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