Kitagawa Ryo didn't waste time with words. The moment his sentence fell, he launched a flying kick toward Yamada Albert, who had pinned Ryuuen Kakeru to the ground, cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh.
Yamada barely had time to release Ryuuen and raise his arm to block the incoming strike. He planned to tank the blow and grab Ryo's ankle, but the force he felt through his arm changed his expression. Not only did he fail to grab the leg, but he was also forced back several steps. A sharp pain and numbness surged through his blocking arm.
Ryuuen, freed from Yamada's grasp, didn't bother thanking Ryo. Instead, he aimed a heavy punch at Ryo's supporting knee. But before the punch landed, Ryo had already retracted his right leg and delivered a knee strike to Ryuuen's nose, leaving him sprawled on the ground, stunned.
With Ryuuen dealt with, Ryo turned his attention to Yamada Albert. This towering figure, known for his strength, was more of a brawn-over-brains type—a reliable brute.
Yamada charged again, trying to use his size to control Ryo. But Ryo closed the distance, clinging to him like a shadow, and delivered a powerful elbow to Yamada's gut. Still full from breakfast, the impact triggered both pain and nausea. After taking a couple more hits, Yamada waved a hand to signal surrender.
"You done?" Ryo asked casually.
Yamada nodded silently.
Ryo let up and yanked the dazed Ryuuen up by his collar. His actions were rough, but with his good looks and Ryuuen's earlier arrogance, no one seemed to mind. Someone even started clapping.
"Quit faking, Ryuuen. I know you too well."
Ryo slapped Ryuuen's face twice and lifted his purple bangs.
"Your hair's too long. Easy to grab in a fight. Or get mistaken for a girl. What good is it?"
"Still got that sharp tongue, huh?"
"Takes one to know one."
Ryuuen threw a punch toward Ryo's waist, but Ryo casually blocked it.
"Want me to say your line for you?"
"Forget it. Something like: 'You can knock me down, but you'll never defeat me,' right?"
Ryo yawned.
"Ryuuen, empty threats are just pathetic. Let's make a deal. Stay quiet this semester. If I can't meet your expectations, I'll step down and hand things over to you."
"You think I'll be leashed by that promise? As long as I'm in Class C, I won't let you rest easy."
"You're the hardest one to deal with. More than Housen or Kaname. Never know when to quit."
Ryo sighed, then slapped Ryuuen again, loud and clear.
"You talk big, but when you lose, all you do is bluff and sneak. You expect loyalty from others when you were never loyal yourself. That's what I call trash."
Ryo forced Ryuuen to look at their classmates.
"Look at yourself. Who would follow you now? Keep acting out, and I'll shave you bald and strip you in front of everyone tomorrow."
Dragging Ryuuen around the room, Ryo cheerfully threatened him, planting horrifying images in everyone's mind.
Ryuuen knew Ryo wasn't bluffing. That terrifying unpredictability was what made him dangerous.
"Fine. I accept your bet."
With Ryuuen yielding, some of the delinquents tried to take revenge, only to be promptly kicked down by Ryo.
"What? You thought I was some justice-loving hero?"
The girls realized Ryo might be even more brutal than Ryuuen.
"Relax, I'm not a nice guy, but I don't pick on my own class."
Ryo returned to his seat and dug through his bag.
"How many students in this grade? Answer right and win a prize."
Shiina Hiyori's hand shot up, but another blue-haired girl beat her to it.
"160."
Correct. Ryo threw something at her—a bottle of shampoo.
"Your prize."
"I thought toiletries weren't allowed?"
Ryuuen chimed in smugly, only to get kneed again.
"They're from the campus store. Free."
"But we didn't get our student IDs yet."
"They're still free. I had a senior help me out."
"Isn't it odd? If everyone gets 100,000 points a month, why are there free items?"
Sakagami Kazuma, the homeroom teacher, nodded approvingly.
"The school wouldn't set up a free supply cabinet for a few students. There must be many who can't afford daily items. So not everyone gets 100,000 points."
"Maybe it's just the school being generous?"
"Fine, let's assume that. Then how many points does the school give yearly to the first-years?"
"19.2 million."
Shiina finally got her prize—facial wash.
"Can the school really afford to do charity on this scale? Or are points performance-based?"
Students began realizing the truth, their dreams of coasting to graduation cracking.
Sakagami clapped.
"Kitagawa-kun makes a solid point. The entrance ceremony is soon. Get ready."
Ryo led the class in fixing overturned desks.
As he passed Ryuuen, he mouthed:
"Thanks for the hard work."
Ryuuen gave a crooked smile in return.
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The entrance ceremony was held in the school's grand auditorium. At first, they thought tidying up the classroom had made them late, but upon arrival, they realized that Class D hadn't arrived either. Compared to Classes A and B, who stood in neat, silent rows, the students of Class C were noticeably more scattered. Perhaps it was due to Kitagawa Ryo's explosive speech earlier, leaving many still immersed in a storm of speculation.
"Quiet down."
Kitagawa Ryo stood at the front of the line, frowning slightly as he spoke. The previously noisy group immediately fell silent, as if a chilly autumn breeze had swept through them. A single glance from Kitagawa Ryo toward the noisiest corner of the class caused a few of the boys to shrink back and stand up straight as if facing a predator.
The stir on their side naturally caught the attention of students from Classes A and B. However, with Class B standing in between, most of Class A couldn't see what was going on clearly. Only a few students in the front, with better views, cast curious glances their way. Among them, a white-haired girl standing at the very front due to her small stature and physical limitations looked up.
"...Long time no see."
Sakayanagi Arisu murmured softly.
[We've never met before, but somehow... it feels so familiar.]
From Class B's formation, Ichinose Honami also turned to look in Kitagawa Ryo's direction. She was certain she'd never interacted with him before, yet a strange sense of closeness and sadness welled up from within.
In every possible sense, it truly had been a long time.
Kitagawa Ryo quietly turned his head to the right.
Only to meet the sharp, violet gaze of Horikita Suzune among the entering Class D students.
For the first time, Kitagawa Ryo was genuinely looking forward to the start of an entrance ceremony.
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