Chapter 11: Trap in the Open

Kenta had come to a realization: tricks and manipulations would no longer be enough. The man hiding in the shadows was too smart, too cautious. A shock was needed—a disruption—to force him to react.

He moved to the next phase: psychological warfare.

Beginning of the chapter:

Kenta secretly gathered two members of his class—strong and loyal boys named Hiroto and Masa. In an empty room, he unfolded a plan.

— “Listen. We tried playing by their rules. But the one leading Class D remains in the shadows. Salia is just a front.”

Hiroto, suspicious: — “You mean we should… take her?”

Kenta nodded slowly. — “She’s their face. If we neutralize her, the real mastermind won’t have a choice. He’ll come to save her. And that’s when I catch him.”

Mid-chapter:

The next morning, Salia disappears. Panic spreads among the Class D students.

In the common room, voices rise:

— “She was at breakfast, and now she’s just… gone?!”

— “This isn’t normal, someone needs to alert the teachers!”

But Winner remained calm. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the floor.

— “He dared take it that far… Trying to force my hand, Kenta? Fine.”

Meanwhile, in an isolated room, Salia sat tied to a chair. Not injured or mistreated, but uncomfortable enough to be thrown off.

Kenta crouched in front of her.

— “This isn’t about you, Salia. I just want the faceless puppet master to come out of hiding.”

Salia stared at him, confused, caught between fear and anger.

— “You’re talking nonsense… What do you mean ‘someone else’? I’m the leader!”

Kenta sighed.

— “Do you really think those little notes in your lockers came from you? That the plans you followed were your own ideas?”

She didn’t respond.

— “You know as well as I do—you were being used.”

Meanwhile, in Class C’s strategy room, Kenta gathered his lieutenants. He laid out the situation:

— “We’ve got him. He can’t stay passive. Either he shows himself, or he loses his precious puppet.”

One student from his class, Keiji, asked:

— “What if he decides not to come?”

Kenta smiled coldly.

— “That’s why I’ve planned for everything. The attack is just bait. As soon as he shows up, I’ll send another team to bring him down.”

Keiji, curious: — “Got any idea who it is?”

— “I’ve got two suspects. But one fits perfectly: Winner. Always discreet. Never in the spotlight. But every time Class D’s plan worked… he was there. In the shadows.”

End of the chapter:

In the empty hallway of the West building, Winner walked alone. His gaze was calm. Almost emotionless.

“You want to drag me out… You think I’ll charge in blindly?”

He pulled a small device from his pocket and pressed a button. Elsewhere in the school, a jamming system activated. Cameras stopped recording.

— “Sorry, Kenta. You were never leading the dance.”

He slowly entered the room where Salia was being held.

And everything was about to begin..