Even though the homeroom teacher Mashima Tomonari had mentioned during the morning class that Sakayanagi Arisu had officially taken a leave of absence today, as soon as the bell rang signaling the end of class, while the rest of the class rushed toward the cafeteria, Kitagawa Ryo headed straight toward the dormitory building without hesitation.
He had tried sending a few messages to Sakayanagi during class, but they remained unread.
Since the number of students at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School was limited, there were only three dormitory buildings, one per grade, and they were co-ed. However, for convenience and to minimize potential conflicts, the boys' dorms were assigned to the lower floors, while the girls typically lived from the tenth floor upward.
Very few students returned to the dorm during lunch break, so the elevator area was deserted, a stark contrast to the chaos during mornings and after school.
After stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the thirteenth floor, just before the doors closed, another student slipped inside and let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew, made it just in time."
"Eh? Isn't this Kitagawa-senpai?"
Ryo glanced over and found it was Amasawa Ichika from his own class—the suspicious White Room candidate who had once deliberately leaked some of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's plans to him.
"So what's with the 'senpai' title now?"
Ichika blinked with a playful smile. "Well, I skipped a grade, so I'm technically a year younger than everyone else. And as a new member of the drama club, you're definitely my senior."
Ryo casually asked but didn't pursue it further. His mind was still preoccupied with Sakayanagi.
Ichika, however, tilted her head curiously. "Senpai, are you going to the girls' dorm?"
Since it was just the two of them in the elevator, she quickly noticed he was headed for the thirteenth floor.
While it wasn't prohibited, very few male students ventured to the girls' floors. Even those in relationships often avoided doing so to prevent awkward encounters.
Yet, girls could freely visit the boys' dorms.
Ryo caught his train of thought veering into dangerous territory and quickly reined it in. "Yeah. I'm going to check on Arisu. She took a leave of absence, and I'm a bit worried."
"Ooooh~"
Ichika exaggerated her reaction in a way that looked oddly cute. "But you might be disappointed. Sakayanagi hasn't been back since leaving last night. I live right next to her."
"I see..."
That made sense. If her health had taken a turn for the worse, the school infirmary wouldn't be sufficient. She was likely sent off-campus for treatment.
Ryo sent a message to Chairman Sakayanagi and soon got a reply: just a routine checkup due to some concerning symptoms. Her father had taken her off-campus for a full physical, and she might return this afternoon.
With that clarified, Ryo no longer needed to go up to the thirteenth floor. Feeling more relaxed, he turned to Ichika.
"What about you? Not heading to the cafeteria?"
"Forgot the bento I made last night."
She flipped her red twin-tails and added, "Senpai hasn't eaten either, right? Want to share a bento together?"
"Sure."
Ryo had brought a lunchbox too. Ever since solidifying his golden-tier cooking talent [Gourmet God], cafeteria food no longer appealed to him—not even the deluxe meals.
"Then wait for me on the first floor."
After briefly parting ways and returning to the first floor, Ichika reappeared with her bento. Ryo had interacted with three White Room students so far, and Ichika felt... different. Her personality didn't match the mold those kids were usually forced into.
Maybe it was because she was a year younger, but she seemed more inclined to believe in fairytales than Sakayanagi ever did.
"Hmm?"
Noticing Ryo staring, Ichika turned back, her red ponytail brushing his nose.
Her round, amber eyes were almost identical to his sister's.
"Nothing. Just remembered you haven't been active in the drama club despite joining."
"Isn't the drama club basically an excuse to slack off and go off-campus?"
She had a point. Hard to argue with that.
Before he could change the subject, a commotion ahead caught Ryo's attention. With his [Hawk Eye] talent, he spotted several familiar figures, especially the large-framed Yamada.
"Yamada?"
He quickened his pace. "Something's up with our classmates."
"Eh?"
Ichika, who had just sat down and opened her bento, quickly closed it and followed.
To Ryo's surprise, Ichika kept pace easily. Physically, she was near the top tier for girls—even Horikita might not compare.
Rounding a corner, they arrived at a clearing where a tense standoff was unfolding. Yamada Albert stood beside another student, Miyake Akito—whom Sudo had just mentioned that morning.
Facing them were seven or eight other male students, though their body language seemed more hesitant than aggressive.
Ryo scanned the group. Surprisingly, it was a mix: some from Class C, some from Class D, and two unfamiliar upperclassmen.
"The guy who started the last fight was expelled two weeks ago."
"What happened here?"
Seeing Ryo arrive, Yamada visibly relaxed and pulled Miyake behind him. Miyake, confused, glanced at Ryo—after all, Ryo didn't look intimidating at all.
"Who the hell are you?" one of the unfamiliar upperclassmen barked.
"That's Kitagawa Ryo from our class," a Class D student muttered.
Ryo vaguely remembered the kid's name was something like Hondo. He used to hang out with Yamauchi.
"Is he someone important?"
"He's close with Horikita, the Student Council member."
Ichika chuckled quietly.
"Whatever! This is between us and them. Even if you know a council member, it doesn't matter."
"Second years or third years?"
"You got some nerve talking to your upperclassmen like that!"
Miyake hurriedly explained, "They're second years from Class C, members of the archery club. Apparently, a guy named Yoshimoto from my club accused me of stealing his girlfriend."
Yamada added, "I came with him because I was worried things might get violent."
Ryo actually remembered Yoshimoto—a lovestruck fool who neglected his training after dating an older girl, leading to C Class's embarrassing lack of archers during the sports festival.
Still, Miyake didn't seem like someone who'd steal another guy's girlfriend.
"It's all his fault! Yoshimoto fell apart because of this guy!" another student shouted. "He failed the tryouts and can't go to the summer tournament. His life is ruined!"
That's quite a leap in logic.
Miyake finally snapped, walking forward to argue back. Ryo watched, amused, as this usually quiet guy unleashed a surprisingly articulate rant.
With the shouting devolving into melodramatic drama, Ryo silently opened his bento and began eating. Lunch break was almost over, after all.
Given the mixed makeup of the crowd—C Class, D Class, and upperclassmen—Ryo doubted this was orchestrated by Ryuuen. If it were, things would've been far more direct.
Besides, with D Class sitting at zero points and having already lost six students, who would even bother targeting them?
Unless it was Ayanokouji reaching out to Ryuuen for a collaboration.
Chew, chew.
After finishing his lunch, Ryo stood up. "Class is starting. Break it up."
Being late = point deductions = lifestyle downgrade.
Within seconds, the group of aggressors scattered, leaving only the two D Class students behind, confused.
"What about you two?"
"Uh... we just got paid 1,000 points to back them up... maybe I can give you 500 back?"
"We weren't really gonna do anything. Just wanted to scare Miyake a bit. And there are cameras nearby."
After a clumsy excuse, the two of them scurried away.
Ryo patted Miyake on the shoulder. "Let's go. It's over."
"Thanks... Are you sure it's really over?"
"Relax. This is still school. Not everything's some elaborate scheme. You just got caught in a ridiculous love triangle."
Ryo double-checked the security cameras. All operational. And this wasn't even an unmonitored zone.
"Let's get back. The first period this afternoon is Mashima-sensei's English class. We'll be punished for being late."
"Mashima's class?"
Miyake and Yamada turned pale and bolted.
"Hey! No running! If we get punished, we suffer together!"
"Amasawa—why are YOU running too?!"
"Damn it! I just ate!"
-------------------------------------
Sakayanagi Arisu cracked the window open and glanced at her phone.
"Looks like I'm still going to be late."
"You don't have to go this afternoon if you're not feeling well," her father said from the driver's seat. One of the reasons he'd arranged for her to attend this school was to keep a closer eye on her health.
"It's alright. Let's go to the school building. I might still make it in time."
The car pulled up in front of the building. Arisu carefully stepped out.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A loud noise echoed from the stairwell—someone was sprinting up. Curious, Arisu looked up and caught a glimpse of two familiar figures.
Was that Miyake and Yamada? Yamada Albert's bulky frame was hard to mistake.
She checked her phone. Less than a minute to spare before class started. Judging by their speed, they'd probably make it.
Taking the cane from her father, Arisu nodded politely. She had long grown accustomed to using it.
"Then I won't walk you up. No need to rush. The teacher will understand," her father said.
"It's fine," she replied.
With that, she began her slow ascent, step by step.
Just as she reached the landing between the first and second floors, she heard synchronized voices echo from above: "Reporting in!"
Looks like they made it.
Smiling faintly, Arisu continued upward at her usual pace.
Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
"Arisu! Are you feeling okay?"
A familiar voice. She turned to see Kitagawa Ryo.
"I'm fine," she said with a shake of her head, curious why he wasn't in class yet. He was cutting it close.
"Good."
Ryo stepped up beside her but stayed one step below so their height difference wouldn't be too stark. Gently, he offered her his arm.
"Still, you should take it easy—just got back from the hospital."
"...You're always like this."
They arrived at the fourth floor together—late, as expected.
"Sorry, I was helping Arisu. That's why we're late," Ryo explained casually to Mashima-sensei, who wore a stern expression.
"...Come in," Mashima said after a pause.
"Under the circumstances, no punishment."
He then turned to the rest of Class D and added in a serious tone:
"In both school and life, looking out for your classmates in small ways is commendable. Kitagawa did a good job here."
Ryo returned to his seat, feigning humility as he accepted the praise. As Mashima resumed the lesson, chalk tapping against the board, Ryo let out a yawn.
While the teacher's back was turned, Ryo made a playful face at Arisu, who had turned around with an annoyed glare.
She mouthed a single word in return:
"Liar."
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