Hiratsuka clutching a stack of textbooks, happened to walk in at that exact moment. She immediately put a stop to the skirmish, her voice dropping an octave as she issued a stern warning to the troublemaking underclassman.
"You're a first-year, aren't you? Learn some manners. If you dare come to my class to incite a riot again, don't blame me for taking 'decisive' action!"
Faced with Hiratsuka's iron-clad glare, Ichika simply offered a wordless smile, though she did pull her hand back. Simultaneously, she glanced up at the room's lone surveillance camera.
Ichika was well aware that the Chairman had likely seen the whole display, but she wasn't worried. As long as the fighting stayed within certain "educational" boundaries, things wouldn't get complicated.
Smoothing over the tension as if nothing had happened, Ichika turned to the teacher.
"Is Shiina-senpai here? I've come specifically to see her."
Hiratsuka took the cigarette out of her mouth and answered flatly, "She's not. Probably at the library reading."
No sooner had the words left Hiratsuka's mouth than Hiyori returned, cradling a book against her chest. Just as the teacher suspected, she had been off in her own literary world.
Because Ryunosuke was perpetually buried in Student Council work, Hiyori's shared reading time with him had been drastically cut. This left her with no choice but to read in solitary silence. While Hiyori understood that her man was busy and she shouldn't be selfish, a small part of her still felt a lingering loneliness.
Stumbling upon the chaotic scene in her classroom, Hiyori asked in confusion, "You were looking for me? Is there something you need?"
Her eyes swept the room, and her brow furrowed.
"And... was all of this really necessary?"
Hiyori's meaning was clear: If you want to talk to me, just ask—why did you have to beat up half my class?
Ichika put on a pitiful, wronged expression. "I didn't want it to end up like this, but they were the ones who attacked me first."
She flipped the script with practiced ease, pointing at Ryuen, Ibuki, and Yukino—the three who had indeed made the first moves.
Ryuen opened his mouth to snap back, but then he realized she was technically right; they had struck first. He swallowed his retort, his face twisting in annoyance.
Meanwhile, Yukino realized the gravity of the situation.
(This junior... did she intentionally bait them into attacking so she could wash her hands of the responsibility?)
Yukino saw through the ruse. No wonder the girl acted without fear—she had ensured they were the ones "in the wrong." Or more accurately, she had provoked them until they had no choice but to act.
(What a terrifying underclassman...) Yukino vowed never to underestimate this seemingly harmless girl again. The last time she'd encountered someone with a soul this murky, it was Ryunosuke.
Ryunosuke (somewhere else): (Why am I being dragged into this? Stop slandering me; my heart is as pure as freshly fallen snow.)
Back to the present.
Yukino wasn't about to let Hiyori sit alone with such a dangerous individual, and the rest of Class D felt the same. Thus, the current standoff was born.
Ichika sat "obediently" in the middle of Class D's territory to chat with Hiyori. She wasn't allowed to leave the room. More importantly, she wasn't allowed out of their sight for a single second.
Ichika's 1-on-3 performance had genuinely rattled them. The fact that she had tricked them into attacking first left them seething but speechless. Based on all evidence, this junior was a literal demon.
If their leader, Hiyori, was getting involved with someone like this, they couldn't rest easy.
Ichika sat across from Hiyori, propping her face up with both hands, acting as if there wasn't a drop of social anxiety in her body.
"Shiina-senpai, you're so popular! Look at how your classmates are rallying around you. Why aren't you the official leader?"
Ichika spoke with a mask of innocence, but her words were poison meant to drive a wedge between Hiyori and Ryuen. After all, Ryuen was the one currently holding the reins.
Her intention was transparent: test the class's internal stability. If the entirety of Class D threw their support behind Hiyori right then, it would surely spark resentment in Ryuen.
If she played her cards right, she could split the formidable Class D into two warring factions. For Ichika, this was all gain and no pain. According to reliable intel, Hiyori was one of the women closest to Ryunosuke. In short: making Hiyori's life messy was a direct strike against Ryunosuke!
At this point, Ichika's mindset had shifted. It wasn't just about getting him expelled anymore; she was starting to enjoy the challenge. Thinking back to how Ryunosuke had threatened her earlier, she felt a prickle of irritation.
(Who does he think he is, talking to me like that? I'm definitely going to teach him a lesson.)
Ichika was officially interested in Ryunosuke. Weakening his foundation was just step one. Often, the shortest path to love is intense curiosity; she was fascinated by him, even if it was fueled by spite.
"Hmm?"
In Class C, Kushida—who also harbored a very specific brand of "negative interest"—felt her pretty eyebrows twitch.
"Strange. Why do I have a bad feeling? Is someone talking about me?"
Back to Ichika.
No matter how hard she tried to provoke a power struggle, the result was unexpected. Class D remained more united than ever. More specifically, Hiyori had absolutely zero desire to be a leader. None.
Ichika's attempt to pit her against Ryuen failed spectacularly. Her words felt like punching a cloud; they didn't leave a single mark.
Ichika stared at the literary girl in front of her, genuinely stumped. If she doesn't care about status or power, what leverage do I have?
Giving up on the political angle, Ichika pivoted to a different kind of probe. Her lips curled into a sly smile as she asked:
"So, what exactly is the relationship between you and Akasaka-senpai?"
Hiyori blinked, not quite understanding why the junior was asking, but she answered with her characteristic honesty.
"We're in a relationship~"
Hiyori's smile was radiant, a clear sign that she loved her partner from the bottom of her heart. Ichika's smile widened into that of a little devil. Internally, she cheered.
(Good. It's better that you care for him. If you didn't, I wouldn't have an opening...)
Ichika suddenly looked bashful, her fingers nervously pleating the hem of her skirt. She put on a hesitant face, as if she were carrying a heavy emotional burden—it was a world-class performance. Hiyori, seeing the "struggle," fell for it and reached out.
"What's wrong, Ichika-chan? Are you feeling okay?"
Ichika looked up, her voice small and shy.
"It was love at first sight for me... with Akasaka-senpai. I was wondering... would it be okay if I tried to steal him away from you?"
Hiyori instantly turned to stone.