Classes had finally resumed after a long hiatus—though "resumed" was a bit of a stretch, given there were no actual lessons held that day. Nothing particularly monumental had occurred.
If anything of note had happened, it was that the class reorganization had placed Yugo, Melt, and Marcos together, and that unauthorized duels between students were now strictly prohibited.
The former was a welcome development. As for the latter, it was a natural precaution considering Isaac’s recent rampage and the way students had been acting out while gambling with materials.
The full-scale resumption of the curriculum would likely take a few more days, as the start of the new term was typically filled with these sorts of administrative briefings from the faculty.
Once the day's schedule concluded, Yugo headed toward the Third Training Ground alongside Melt, who had also received a summons from a teacher.
Yugo couldn't help but chuckle, remembering how Marcos—the only one of their trio not to receive a summons—had been fuming, demanding to know why he alone had been left out. Upon reaching their destination, Yugo turned to Melt with a question about the facility.
"By the way, what exactly is a 'Practice Ground'? Is it different from the usual training grounds?"
"Think of a Practice Ground as a training area designed to simulate a environment closer to actual combat," Melt explained. "They're much larger than standard training grounds, so they can accommodate a lot of students at once. Sometimes entire classes hold their drills here."
"Heh, I see. That makes sense."
Accepting Melt's concise explanation, Yugo stepped into the Third Training Ground. Seeing the sheer number of students already gathered, he realized his hunch was right—they weren't the only ones called.
Based on what Melt had said, it stood to reason that the faculty had gathered a large group here for some specific purpose.
The real questions were: what would they be doing, and what were the criteria for being summoned? As Yugo pondered this, a familiar voice called out his name, though it was laced with palpable disgust.
"Hm? If it isn't Yugo. What are you doing here?"
"Huh? You're—!"
Yugo looked up to find Cyan and Egos staring back at him. Both were flanked by several students who appeared to be their friends, and none of them were looking at him with anything resembling goodwill.
Leaving their whispering lackeys behind, Cyan and Egos approached. They didn't even bother to hide their hatred, spitting their words out like venom.
"Why is someone like you in a place like this? If you're lost, leave Melt-chan behind and get lost. We have business to attend to here today."
"I don't care what you think. Both Melt and I were summoned here by Professor Castle. I don't know what the plan is yet, but I have every right to be here."
"What...!? Scum like you, participating in this gathering...!? You’ve got to be kidding me...!"
Back to calling me scum again, Yugo thought, frowning at Cyan’s outburst.
It would be one thing if he’d actually earned a grudge by causing someone harm, as he had with Hao. But as far as Yugo was concerned, he hadn't done a single thing to justify this treatment from Cyan, who was supposed to be a High School Division Transfer Student. As Yugo stood there in exasperation, Egos spoke up with a disturbing suggestion.
"Now, now, Cyan-kun. Look on the bright side. It was a surprise to see this guy here, but it’s a good thing we caught him before the teachers arrived. It gives us the chance to kick him out."
"Hah...? What are you talking—?"
Yugo trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he realized Egos, Cyan, and their cronies were shifting into combat stances.
So "kicking him out" meant using force to drag him away. Sensing the shift in the air, Yugo braced himself and addressed them.
"Hey, what’s the big idea? Weren't we just warned that unauthorized dueling is forbidden?"
"Well, normally, yes... but since you're the one who started rampaging first, this is unavoidable, isn't it? We’re just stopping the Academy's Number One Scum, Yugo-kun, who started getting violent for no reason because he was in a bad mood. It’s what you'd call self-defense."
"Yugo, rampaging first...? What are you talking about!?" Melt cried out. "Are you really planning to frame him for something he didn't do just to make him the villain!? You won't get away with that!"
Melt was right, of course. Yet Yugo could sense that the atmosphere in the room might actually allow them to get away with it.
Among the crowd, many held the same hostility toward Yugo as Cyan and Egos did. If they all stood together, fabricating a crime would be trivial.
No matter what Melt said, the social hierarchy was clear: who would the school believe—the notorious scum Yugo, or the celebrated Hero Candidates like Cyan?
As Egos directed a malicious sneer at Yugo, clearly relishing the chance to repay the humiliation he’d suffered during their last encounter, a voice rang out, sounding entirely unbothered by the tension.
"Yugo, what’s going on here?"
"O-Oh, you...!"
"Ryuga!"
Emerging from the same doors Yugo and Melt had entered through, Ryuga walked toward them with a relaxed smile.
He came to a stop beside Yugo, his gaze sweeping over the students in their combat stances with silent authority before he addressed Cyan and Egos.
"...Do you have some business with Ryuga's Younger Sister's Benefactor? Depending on the answer, I might have to handle this in his place. What's it going to be?"
"Ugh...!"
A heavy, razor-sharp aura of intimidation washed over Cyan and his lackeys.
It felt as though a cold blade were being pressed against their throats. They could do nothing but groan, their voices trapped in their chests. However, Cyan managed to find a shred of defiance and spat back at Ryuga.
"Y-You... are you sure about this? That guy is the Academy's Number One Scum! If you side with a guy like that, you'll regret it! Is that really what you want!?"
The words he forced out sounded less like a threat and more like the pathetic whimpering of a cornered thug.
Ryuga’s expression didn't flicker. He stared at Cyan with eyes that felt like ice, his voice quiet but possessed of a lethal edge.
"I’ll give you one warning: do not ask me questions."
"Guh..."
Ryuga spared one last glance for Cyan, who had been silenced by the sheer weight of his presence, before turning his gaze toward the other students who were watching the scene unfold.
As they all looked away in fear, Ryuga confirmed that the trouble had subsided and turned back to Yugo.
"Yugo—and you, his girlfriend—shall we go speak over there? I'd appreciate the company, since I don't have anyone else to talk to around here besides you two."