Ryuuen Kakeru's plan began to quietly unfold.
Within Class D, the absurd rumors, after the initial commotion and the 'calming' efforts of Hirata and Kushida, had not truly subsided.
The seeds had been sown, and under Kushida's covert catalysis, they silently began to sprout.
"Hey, tell me... who do you think posted those messages?"
"It must be someone from another class! They can't stand to see us do well!"
"But... why would they even slander such a good person as Kushida-san? That's too much!"
"The main thing is the one about Class C, right? Ichinose-san... a criminal? That sounds too scary..."
Discussions circulated in hushed whispers during breaks and lunchtime.
Kushida Kikyo perfectly played the dual role of victim and mediator.
"Everyone, please don't speculate anymore... I believe the person who posted might just have been momentarily confused... I just wish we could know who it was and why they did it..."
"That way, other classes won't keep misunderstanding that there's a problem within our Class D..."
She successfully planted the idea of "finding the rumor-monger" in the minds of some Class D students.
At the same time, she secretly passed on the focus of Class D's internal discussions and speculations to Ryuuen.
Ryuuen received the intelligence and a cold sneer appeared on his lips.
It was pretty much as he expected.
The students of Class D were just like that.
The chaos and suspicion in Class D had become a breeding ground for a larger storm.
Next, the fire needed to be spread to a wider area.
He took out his phone and contacted the pawn he had long prepared—
Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class A.
He was only suitable as a pawn, not a collaborator.
Their previous brief cooperation had already given Ryuuen his answer.
Moreover, with Sakamoto in Class A, Hashimoto couldn't stir up much trouble.
"Hashimoto, have you heard about those absurd rumors circulating among the First Year students recently?"
"Oh? Student Ryuuen, are you referring to those interesting tidbits about Ichinose-san being a criminal, or Yamauchi-san having a crush on Sakamoto-kun? They are quite creative, aren't they? Why, is Student Ryuuen also interested in this?"
"Hmph, I'm not that bored. These rumors didn't spare our Class B either. However, I've found something interesting. These rumors, they initially started being discussed and fermented within Class D."
He deliberately paused, leaving room for imagination.
"Those useless people in Class D, not only do they fight among themselves, but now they want to muddy the waters and drag everyone down. Especially that outrageous talk about Ichinose being a 'criminal'... it's simply laughable. I think they've set their sights on Class C and want to use such despicable methods to pull Class C down."
"Oh? It started in Class D?"
"Just a reminder, your Class A is a big target, and Sakamoto is even more of a bullseye. Be careful not to be randomly bitten by those mad dogs from Class D and affect your position in the class. After all, it's not easy for you."
Ryuuen's tone carried a seemingly well-intentioned 'reminder'.
Hashimoto was silent for a moment.
Ryuuen's words accurately hit his mark.
As a peripheral figure in Class A's 'Sakayanagi faction,' he craved more recognition and a stronger voice.
He was eager to gather information on anything that might affect the class's stability and image, in order to demonstrate his value.
"Is the information reliable?"
"Believe it or not. I'm just doing you a favor. Class D... heh, they're rotten to the core, only capable of such tactics."
The communication ended.
Ryuuen sneered.
Someone like Hashimoto, who craved approval yet harbored doubts, was easiest to exploit.
Just throw out some half-truths, and with a little guidance, he would naturally 'verify' and spread this 'discovery'.
At the same time, students from Class B began to 'casually' discuss the various absurd rumors they had 'heard from Class D' in public areas like hallways and the cafeteria, particularly emphasizing the 'Ichinose criminal' claim.
"Have you heard? They're saying in Class D that Ichinose-san from Class C might have been involved in something before..."
"Really? It's true? She doesn't look like it at all!"
"Who knows... you can't judge a book by its cover... And it's being spread with such conviction..."
The rumors, like a plague, quickly spread throughout the First Year within a single day.
The focus gradually converged on Class C and Ichinose Honami.
The atmosphere in Class C's classroom became distinctly different from before.
The usual sunny and united ambiance was overshadowed by a cloud.
Whispers and scrutinizing glances occasionally drifted towards the pink-haired girl.
Ichinose Honami still tried to maintain her smile, but the fatigue and gloom in her brows, which were difficult to hide, revealed the immense pressure she was under.
She chose to remain silent, not offering a strong rebuttal, seemingly only wanting the commotion to subside quickly.
However, in the eyes of some, this silence seemed to become a form of tacit admission.
"Ichinose... why doesn't she explain?" a classmate whispered in confusion.
"Perhaps... she really has something unspeakable?" Speculation began to grow.
Vice Class President Kanzaki Ryuji frowned, watching the change in the class atmosphere and Ichinose's forbearance, feeling extremely anxious.
He absolutely did not believe those absurd rumors.
He needed to act quickly.
He had to find the source of the rumors, clarify the facts, and restore Class C's unity and Ichinose's reputation.
He thought of Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class A, with whom he had cooperated before.
Class A was well-informed and might be able to provide clues.
He immediately contacted Hashimoto.
Hashimoto revealed the information he had obtained from Ryuuen and 'verified,' combined with his own judgment, to Kanzaki.
The result was obvious: the rumors originated from Class D.
The clues provided by Ryuuen were successfully guided in the intended direction.
It was after school.
Ryuuen's carefully arranged final act was about to unfold.
However, since this was only the first day of his plan, the chances of success were still unclear.
But what was known was that these gossip news had already spread among the First Year students.
He sent out two Class B students.
They 'coincidentally' discussed in low voices near the Class C classroom, the content naturally being about Class D spreading rumors, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the Class C students who happened to be walking out of the classroom to hear.
"It must be those guys from Class D! If they can't do well themselves, they can't stand to see others succeed!"
"Especially that Sudo Ken, he looks so short-tempered, he might be the one behind it!"
And this was coincidentally overheard by Shiraha Chihiro, who had just been preparing to 'confess' to Ichinose.
Shiraha Chihiro deeply admired Ichinose.
Hearing this, her small face immediately puffed up with anger.
She instinctively followed the two Class B students, wanting to hear more clearly or to question them.
The two Class B students pretended not to notice.
They led Shiranami to a busy intersection in the corridor near the gymnasium.
Here, Sudo Ken had just finished basketball club practice and was walking over, drenched in sweat.
The two Class B students immediately raised their voices, pointing at Sudo:
"Look! It's him! Sudo Ken from Class D! He must be the one spreading rumors and causing trouble!"
Sudo Ken was bewildered by this sudden accusation, and his temper flared up instantly:
"Huh?! What nonsense are you talking about?! Who spread rumors?!"
Shiraha Chihiro also followed closely, and hearing Sudo's denial, and recalling what she had just heard, she couldn't help but retort in a furious whisper:
"People from Class D... you're the ones spreading bad things about Ichinose!"
Even though Sudo had matured somewhat and his temper wasn't as explosive, being accused by an unfamiliar Class C girl was more than he could bear:
"Hey! Stop slandering us! We in Class D didn't do anything like that!"
His aggressive attitude scared Shiranami back a step, her eyes slightly red, but she still stared at him stubbornly.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Kanzaki Ryuji, who had been observing from the shadows and quietly following and protecting Shiranami, saw this and immediately stepped forward, shielding Shiranami behind him, and looked at Sudo with a stern expression:
"Student, please show some respect! If you have something to say, say it properly, don't threaten our classmate!"
Sudo was in a fit of anger, and seeing another person from Class C arrive, he felt even more that they were ganging up on him, and he yelled without thinking:
"You other classes are ganging up to slander Class D! And you want me to speak properly?!"
"We just want to know the truth! Whether the rumors are related to Class D!" Kanzaki argued, his tone firm.
"What truth is there?!" Sudo roared, and in his agitation, he instinctively took a sudden step forward, seemingly intending to make an attacking move.
Kanzaki's eyes sharpened, and he immediately assumed a defensive stance, ready to protect Shiranami and stop the other party.
Just as a physical confrontation was about to erupt—
At that very moment!
A figure, like a ghost, silently inserted himself between the two!
No one saw how he appeared.
It was as if in the blink of an eye, he was already standing there.
His posture was tall and composed.
It was Sakamoto.
His movements were faster than imaginable.
In the instant before Sudo's attacking stance was fully formed and Kanzaki's defense was fully deployed—
Sakamoto brought his right index and middle fingers together.
With a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, he precisely flicked a certain spot on Sudo's swinging arm's elbow joint!
"Tap!"
A very faint, crisp sound.
Sudo felt his entire arm instantly go numb.
The concentrated strength seemed to be drained in an instant, and his arm fell limply.
He himself stumbled slightly due to the missed exertion of force.
At the same time, Sakamoto's left hand seemingly casually brushed forward.
His sleeve created a gentle yet irresistible current of air, perfectly blocking Kanzaki's forward momentum, allowing him to steady himself.
The entire process happened in a flash.
Smooth, precise, understated.
Instantly defusing a conflict that was about to erupt.
Sakamoto pushed up his glasses.
The lenses reflected the corridor lights, and his tone was calm and unwavering:
"Public places, no private fighting. If you two have a dispute, you might consider resolving it through more rational means."
Sudo and Kanzaki were both stunned.
Looking at the suddenly appearing Sakamoto, they didn't know how to react for a moment.
Shiraha Chihiro also opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Sakamoto's gaze fell on Sudo and Kanzaki:
"Rumors stop with the wise, and violence only breeds greater misunderstanding. I hope you all calm down."
Sudo Ken was breathing heavily, glaring at Sakamoto, but his fists had already unclenched.
Kanzaki Ryuji took a deep breath.
He looked at Sakamoto, his eyes complex, but he no longer rushed forward.