At the far end of the first floor of the Special Classroom Building was a room no one ever visited.
Ishizaki Daichi stood before the slightly rusted iron door, absently tapping the toe of his shoe against the corner of the wall. The rubber sole scraped the floor with a soft hiss. When he heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, he stopped and looked over.
"Hah, you actually showed up alone."
"If you're scared, no one's here to see you kneel."
Natsukawa Sosuke didn't break stride or even glance at him. He only said two words:
"Lead the way."
Ishizaki's cheek twitched, but he didn't waste more words. He turned, gripped the rusted handle, and pushed down hard.
Click.
The lock snapped open, the sound harsh in the quiet hallway. He shoved the door and gestured inside.
"Go on. Don't keep the boss waiting."
Natsukawa stepped in.
The equipment room was spacious, which only made it feel emptier. Heavy curtains blocked every window, sealing out all light. In the center a single emergency lamp hung from the ceiling.
Its sickly yellow glow lit a slow snowfall of dust motes, like a forgotten film still playing.
Ryuuen Kakeru sat atop the tallest stack of jump boxes.
One knee was bent, foot braced on the edge; the other leg swung lazily. He didn't look at the door right away. Head bowed, he toyed with a lighter, flame dancing in his pupils.
Behind him, half-hidden in the giant shadow, the half-foreign Yamada Albert stood like a black statue, sunglasses hiding his eyes. Ibuki Mio leaned against a metal cabinet, arms folded, brows knit in distaste at the mildew. Kimura Satoru and a few others lurked in the gloom, only their eyes catching the light.
Clang.
The iron door slammed shut. Then came the rattle of the lock.
Clack.
In this sealed box, that sound meant no way back.
Only then did Ryuuen snap the lighter shut. He lifted his head slowly, neck giving a soft pop.
A playful smirk curved his lips; his narrow eyes held no anger, only the delighted gleam of a boy who'd found a new toy.
"So you came."
His voice wasn't loud, but in the hollow room it echoed, lazy and dangerous.
Natsukawa stood still, gaze sweeping the space before settling on Ryuuen.
"Nice choice of venue."
He nodded, tone flat.
"Bit dusty, though. Choking."
Ryuuen chuckled, palms on the jump box, and hopped down without a sound.
Hands in pockets, shoulders loose, he strolled a few steps closer.
"You talked big in that email this afternoon."
He stopped two paces away, head cocked, eyes hooked into Natsukawa's face, hunting for even a flicker of fear.
"So, now that you're in a place where no one can hear you scream, care to repeat those words?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Instead he pointed to a camera mounted in the corner, its lens thickly painted over.
"See that?"
His tone turned gentle as a bedtime story—and twice as chilling.
"Don't expect help. An hour ago that thing 'accidentally' got a coat of paint."
"Which means…"
Ryuuen's grin widened, white teeth glinting.
"This is now a lawless zone. Even if I break every bone in your body, tear your mouth apart—no one will ever know."
This was his favorite part.
Before the violence came the mind game. Watching prey go from cocky to frantic to begging on their knees—domination tasted sweeter than anything.
Violence was the only truth.
Make them fear you, make them submit, and in this sealed box he was god.
"So I'll give you a choice."
Ryuuen stared at Natsukawa, hungry for terror, for despair.
"Kneel now, take back every word you said yesterday. Spill how you've been running D-Class. Become my dog—bite whoever I point at."
He pulled a bottle of mineral water from a bag beside him.
Fssst—
The cap spun off, loud in the hush.
Ryuuen tipped the bottle.
Clear water gurgled onto the dusty concrete, forming a dark puddle that spread quickly.
"Or…"
He gazed at the puddle, eyes half-lidded, already picturing Natsukawa crawling to lap it up.
"Let Albert and the boys loosen you up. When you're ready to see sense, crawl over and drink."
Clatter.
The empty bottle bounced across the floor, rolling to a stop against Natsukawa's shoe.
"Choose."
At his words the C-Class students lurking in the shadows closed in. Footsteps overlapped, sealing every gap. The air reeked of impending violence.
However—
Natsukawa didn't look at the bottle or at the tightening ring.
He only sighed, irritation flickering across his face.
"Finished?"
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes, hands tightening in his pockets, grin growing wider.
"What?"
"Your speech. Are you done?"
As he spoke Natsukawa slipped the schoolbag off his shoulder and tossed it onto a cleaner jump box.
"Camera's dead? Lawless zone?"
"Ryuuen, you talk too much."
"If you're going to fight, then fight. All this foreplay—lack of confidence? Or do you need this boring ritual to work up the guts?"
The room went silent for several beats.
Then low laughter bubbled up.
"Heh-heh-heh… ha-ha-ha!"
Ryuuen Kakeru's shoulders shook with laughter.
No anger, no offense—only the wild joy of a hunter who'd spotted the perfect prey.
Perfect.
That look.
Eyes that stayed fearless even at death's door, treating his threats like background noise.
This was the prey he wanted!
Only by crushing someone like this, grinding him underfoot until he screamed, could he taste true ecstasy.
"Interesting… so damn interesting, Natsukawa!"
Ryuuen's laughter cut off; eyes blazing with manic fire, he stared at Natsukawa.
"Thought I'd spare you some pain, but if you're in such a rush to die—"
"No."
Natsukawa rolled a wrist, then tilted his neck left and right—two crisp pops.
Under the yellow light he lifted his lids, gazing at the thrilled Ryuuen with no more emotion than if at a stray dog barking at the wind.
"I just changed my mind."
He crooked a finger at Ryuuen, slow and contemptuous.
"Not worth the words."
"Let's get on with it. Quick and clean—I've got dinner waiting."
Dead silence.
Absolute dead silence.
Every C-Class student was stunned. They'd seen cocky, but never this cocky.
In Ryuuen's own lair, surrounded, and he's thinking about dinner?
Ryuuen tugged the corner of his mouth into a savage grin.
"Good. Real good."
He stepped back, clearing space, and flicked a hand.
"Ishizaki, you're up. Teach him how to talk in this school."
"Yes, boss!"
Ishizaki Daichi answered, fists clenched as he charged.
"Die!"
His punch howled through the air, aimed straight at Natsukawa's face.