In practice, I can issue tasks to my master.

"Ah."

Karuizawa Kei nodded, deliberately staggered as she stood up, and was then half-supported and half-carried by Nangong Cheng towards the tent.

But the moment she turned her back to everyone, a smile appeared on her lips.

Feeling unwell? Of course, that's fake.

She just needs to make room for Shiina Hiyori to become the night watchman for tonight.

This was arranged by Nangong Cheng.

Although she wasn't told the specifics, only that she was asked to switch watch duties with Shiina Hiyori, she had vaguely guessed Nangong Cheng's intentions now that she had grown in many ways.

The tent flaps were drawn, blocking the view from the outside.

Karuizawa Kei lay down in her sleeping bag, turned to her side, and thought to herself.

"Chengjun... He's so gentle when he does those things, but then he can turn around and start scheming and plotting without batting an eye... It's really frightening."

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

Forget it, I don't want to.

Anyway, all she needs to do is her part and happily enjoy the happiness that Nangong Cheng brings her.

This dreamlike life is something I would protect even at the cost of everything.

...

...

Night was falling.

Tonight's night watch is being held by Hiyori Shiina, Kikyo Kushida, and Miki Yamamura.

They sat side by side in front of the campfire, listening to the crackling sound of the firewood burning.

Kikyo Kushida wore a perpetual fake smile, Miki Yamamura had a blank expression, and Hiyori Shiina was gazing at the stars.

A strange atmosphere permeated the stronghold.

Time passed by, second by second.

Hiyori Shiina suddenly spoke up.

"Kushida-kun."

Kikyo Kushida responded immediately: "Shiina-kun, what's wrong?"

"It must be tiring to keep smiling, right?" Shiina Hiyori's voice was very soft, as if she were stating a trivial matter: "Besides, it's rest time now, so you don't have to force yourself to keep smiling."

It was as if the air had been sucked out instantly.

Kikyo Kushida's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Shiina-kun, it is indeed tiring to keep smiling, but it's because I want to heal everyone's fatigue with my smile, not because I'm forcing myself."

"Is that so?" Shiina Hiyori turned her head, looked directly into her eyes, and said in a flat tone as if she were discussing the weather: "There are no outsiders here now, so you can tell the truth."

"I don't understand what Shiina-kun means."

Kikyo Kushida tilted her head cutely.

In fact, the moment Shiina Hiyori opened her mouth, she had already entered a brainstorming state, thinking about what the other person wanted to say.

"I'm a student in Class D, Shiina is a student in Class C, Yamamura is a student in Class A... What do you mean by 'no outsiders'?"

"Because we were the mole."

A sudden gust of wind blew through the forest, causing the embers of the campfire to flicker.

Kikyo Kushida's pupils contracted sharply, and her brain raced in that instant.

Her first reaction was to deny it.

This is instinct, and also a conditioned reflex.

But Shiina Hiyori's gaze was too calm, so calm that there was no hint of probing, as if she had already revealed her hand.

Could it be that when Ryuen sent Shiina Hiyori to infiltrate Class D, she told the latter that she was a mole in Class D?

Furthermore, it's strange that Miki Yamamura and Masumi Kamuro arrived at Class D at this time—Namiya Makoto had just returned to the base, and they followed shortly after.

It looks like Nangong Cheng lured them here.

"Shiina, you are an undercover agent sent by Ryuen to steal the key cards of Class D. Yamamura and Kamuro, who just arrived today, are in a similar situation—this is a fact we all know."

Kikyo Kushida stared at the burning campfire in front of her, her voice low but loud enough for the two people beside her to hear.

“But I’m a student in Class D, not the mole you’re talking about.”

Hiyori Shiina chuckled softly.

"It's fine if you don't want to admit it, but I have to tell you something—I plan to make my move the day before the exam ends."

"In addition, I have already discussed it with Yamamura and the others, so this time it will still be a joint plan between Class A and Class C against Class D. If it succeeds, it will also help you regain your prestige and reputation in Class D."

"..."

Kikyo Kushida is smitten.

Putting aside her previous failure, isn't she just waiting for an opportunity to defeat Nangong Cheng and Horikita Suzune after enduring so much hardship?

However, she was still a little hesitant.

If she succeeds this time, all will be well, but if she fails again, her identity will probably be exposed.

How confident are you?

Saying this was almost tantamount to admitting her position.

Hiyori Shiina smiled and held up a number.

Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes: "Fifty-fifty?"

The probability is quite subtle.

Just as she was about to think about it some more, she saw Hiyori Shiina shake her head and say, "I cannot give an absolute guarantee."

"But even so, I will still do it."

Kikyo Kushida frowned.

This statement is too ambiguous; she can't trust that Shiina Hiyori won't betray her after using her.

After all, her identity and true face were a ticking time bomb for Class D, so it was perfectly reasonable for Class C to use her and then discard her, which could be considered "making use of waste".

But she absolutely refused to accept this outcome.

"So what's your plan?"

"You'll see when the time comes; there's no point in saying this now."

After saying this, Shiina Hiyori closed her eyes, looking like an old monk in deep meditation.

Miki Yamamura, who was standing to the side, hadn't said a word from beginning to end, but her gaze was vaguely fixed on Nangong Cheng's tent, as if she wanted to see through the layer of cloth and see what was inside.

A silence spread among them.

Kikyo Kushida's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, her mind filled with countless questions she wanted answered.

What does it mean?

She's already made that statement, and now you're saying you won't tell me what your plan is?

Are you bullying honest people?

I know what you're thinking.

As if sensing something, Shiina Hiyori suddenly opened her eyes and said this.

"Given your current situation in Class D, knowing too much might affect your daily performance, so I'll wait until before the operation to find an opportunity to tell you."

"...Are they also?"

Kikyo Kushida glanced at Miki Yamamura.

As a fellow first-year student, she realized that she had absolutely no recollection of this girl, which seemed utterly unreasonable.

"Yes, they are unaware of it at the moment."

"In addition, Class C has also made arrangements with Class B. We will act simultaneously on both sides to prevent Class D and Class B from supporting each other."

Shiina Hiyori's words made Kushida Kikyo even more tempted.

The current situation can be described as having the perfect timing, location, and people. If we don't get involved now, who knows when the next opportunity will come.

And she's really had enough of being a coward lately.

During the day, he had to put on a smiling face, and at night he had to hide away to vent his emotions, just like a rat in a sewer, only able to secretly watch Nangong Cheng and Horikita Suzune enjoy their youthful campus life every day.

Why is she the only one suffering?!

Kikyo Kushida closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She mentally reviewed all the pros and cons—the risk of being exposed, the possibility of being abandoned by Longyuan, and the road ahead that, while leading to an unknown destination, was at least not a dead end.

"……it is good."

She opened her eyes, her gaze becoming calm and resolute.

"I agree."

...

...

Meanwhile, at Class B's base.

"Fanbo, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Ah."

Netkura Mako opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just sighed.

"You've changed, Honami."

"Maybe."

Honami Ichinose turned around, patted her on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Because people always change; that's what adults always call 'growing up.'"

"But so-called 'growth' can never be smooth sailing."

Netkura Mako looked at her friend with a complicated expression, but finally nodded.

"I see."

"But you must apologize to Chihiro afterwards."

"I know~ Blame Cheng-jun. It's his fault for not discussing this with us sooner, otherwise I would definitely be the holder of the key card."

"Heh, that guy's always flirting with other women, Fanbo, you'll definitely dump him in the end."

"No way!"

The two chatted for a while longer before returning to their tent to rest.

This whole scene was witnessed by Ibuki Mio, who was hiding in the shadows.

Volume 1: Chapter 93, The Calm Before the Storm

Mio Ibuki leaned against a crooked palm tree, her body hidden at the boundary between the leaves and the shadows.

She heard the entire conversation clearly.

"Blame Cheng Jun."

When Ichinose Honami said this, her tone didn't sound like she was complaining; it sounded more like she was making an excuse for someone—no, not even making an excuse, but rather like a kind of knowing, coquettish way of saying it.

Ibuki Mio doesn't know anything about "Namiya Makoto".

Precisely.

She knew Nangong Cheng was very capable—this man saw through the school's rules on the very first day of school and easily resolved the "deadly trap" set by Longyuan and the mysterious person.

She also knew that Nangong Cheng had close relationships with many girls, and that she could see all sorts of gossip and candid photos about him on the campus forum every day.