The secret rec operation had e to an end under Ryuen's ued ambush. Now, the members of Css B stood in the sed-floor corridor of the Special Building, reviewing the pn's execution as.

  Iose handed Hikaru's phoo Ibuki, allowio watch the footage. The video captured her expression—anger mixed with fleeting traces of fear. Though the emotions were staged, the act was ving enough.

  "I never expected Ryuen to have arick up his sleeve. What a scheming bastard."

  Shibata was still frustrated even after Ryuen and his ckeys had left. A man who set up an ambush in a duel against a girl—such shamelessness was infuriating.

  "He's always been someone willing to use any means necessary to get what he wants," Ibuki remarked, handing the phone back to Iose, a look of disdain fshing across her face. "Pulling something like this is pletely in lih his usual behavior."

  "It's a good thing we were here. Otherwise, who knows what could've happened."

  Hikaru chimed in at just the right moment, shifting his gaze toward Ibuki. "Anyway, we've got solid evidenow, we just o file a report with the student cil. You know where their office is, right?"

  "No idea. Never had a reason to go there."

  "That's fihe school pamphlet has a map. I'll go with you."

  Hikaru figured there was too many people. Just him apanying Ibuki would suffice. Bringing a crowd would only raise unnecessary suspi at the student cil office.

  " I e along too?" Iose raised her hand slightly, her bright blue eyes filled with anticipation.

  "No need. I'll just go with him."

  Ibuki's swift reje came without hesitation, cutting off Iose before Hikaru could even respond.

  …What's going on?

  "Oh… okay then." Iose's expression visibly dimmed, though she forced a smile. "I'll just wait for yood news, then."

  "Don't worry, I'll make sure we get a satisfyi."

  Hikaru smiled reassuringly at Iose and the other two before leaving with Ibuki.

  Ohe twone, Shibata scratched his head in fusion. "Iose-san, why didn't Ibuki want you to e along?"

  But to his surprise, Iose didn't respond. The usually gentle girl now had an unusually serious expression, her delicate brows kogether in thought, as if she hadn't even heard his question.

  "Why ask? Let's just look forward to Hikaru's triumphaurn."

  Kanzaki, perceptive as always, reached out and tugged Shibata's arm, a friendly smile to Iose. "Iose-san, we'll be heading out. Do you want to e with us?"

  She shook her head in silence. Watg them leave, she remained rooted in pce, lost in thought.

  "…What's going on? Is there somethiween them I don't know about?"

  Her thoughts spiraled in fusion.

  I was the one who met Ibuki first. So why…?

  Deep in ption, Iose didn't even realize how much time had passed. Eventually, she let out a small sigh, lightly patted her cheeks, and turo leave. Today had been overwhelming—she ime to process everything.

  ---

  Meanwhile, as Hikaru and Ibuki walked toward the student cil office, he couldn't shake his fusion.

  He had assumed that since Ibuki and Iose had known each other first, she'd naturally prefer going with Iose. But she had specifically refused her. Why?

  As he pohe short-haired girl suddenly stopped iracks, turning to face him with a direct question.

  "Hikaru, you're the real leader of Css B, aren't you?"

  "…Nope. Our leader is Iose."

  Hikaru smiled faintly. He had a good idea of why she had insisted on ing alone—she wao ask him something in private.

  "But from my observation, she relies on you heavily. Why is that?"

  Ibuki's analytical gaze bore into him. While she cked academic prowess, her insight into interpersonal retionships was uedly sharp—especially when it came to power dynamics.

  She could see that among the Css B students, Hikaru was the real deaker, while the others simply followed his lead.

  "Well, it's a bit plicated to expin," Hikaru said casually, his expression unged. "What I tell you is that Iose is our leader—reized by everyone."

  "As for any other details about Css B, I 't ahat."

  His meaning was clear: she shouldn't bother trying to pry further. It was in everyone's best io maintain boundaries.

  "Tch, don't think I'll just believe whatever you say." Ibuki smirked coldly. "You lied to me yesterday, didn't you?"

  "…Lied?"

  "About the css representative having trol over everyone's private points. I might be a first-year, but I'm not dumb enough to blindly believe whatever someoells me."

  Ibuki narrowed her eyes, watg for Hikaru's rea. "Why did you go out of your way to tell me that?"

  "Because you 't stand Ryuen."

  Hikaru's expression remained calm, but inwardly, his impression of Ibuki had shifted.

  She was no fool.

  Despite being pced in Css C, she had a keen sense of power structures and manipution. She had quickly deduced that Hikaru had been feeding her misinformation.

  Is she just bad at academics?

  "Yeah, I knew you were lying," Ibuki admitted, her tone blunt. "But I went along with it because I 't stand Ryuen. If I get him suspended, I'll take the ce."

  She then fixed her sharp gaze on him once again.

  "Besides, you mentioned somethierday—you said after Ryues suspended, you'd have something to discuss with Css C."

  "…You're not pnning to trick us again, are you? If you try anything shady, I'm done pying along."

  "Rex. What I have in mind is something beneficial for both our csses." Hikaru shrugged. His expression turned serious. "You don't have to take my word for it, but I'm not someone who pys meaningless mind games."

  "If you say so."

  Ibuki remained skeptical, but she didn't argue further. Instead, she picked up her pace, gng baly oo make sure he was following.

  "Well? You ing or not? We've got a pint to file."

  "Right."

  Hikaru quickly caught up, falling into step beside her.

  "Before we go i's get our story straight. No slip-ups."

  "Obviously." Ibuki snorted. "I care about this outore than you do."