In fact, after the information is refreshed, they always want to attack me!

Every class has to pay him "protection money" every month. Since Nan Yunya entered the second grade, his sphere of influence has begun to infiltrate the third grade.

Faced with this situation, the third-year students had no choice but to unite and spontaneously form a group centered around student council president Horikita Manabu, who followed the unified command of the student council in daily affairs.

Sato patted Shimizu Akira on the shoulder and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry too much! You're just a freshman, and Nagumo Masaru won't target you for now. As long as the student council president is still there, he will protect the interests of first-year students and other disadvantaged groups."

As he spoke, his expression became slightly complicated: "However... it is precisely because the president is too gentle and doesn't like fighting and vying for power that Nan Yunya's influence has grown stronger day by day."

"Since the start of the semester, not a single person in our Class A has been forced to drop out—all thanks to the student council president's protection. Therefore, everyone in the class holds him in high esteem."

"I see." Shimizu Akira nodded silently.

It seems that the other students in Class A respect Horikita Manabu not only because of his position as student council president—they also respect his character and abilities.

The clear water and the shadows found it interesting.

Although these third-grade seniors knew about the juniors but didn't say anything, they always treated the first-grade juniors like children, feeling that they should be protected.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes a lot of sense. First-grade students have only been in school for a little over a month, they don't have many points at all, and they haven't experienced any major ups and downs.

However, he keenly sensed that this midterm exam might be another great opportunity to earn points—and this time, the goal was probably not limited to first graders.

Akira Shimizu thought about it and realized that even if he sold the paper rolls, he could only sell them to one class, and the price probably wouldn't be very high.

(Given the academic abilities of classes A and B, this test paper shouldn't be necessary. As for class D, there's no point in saying anything; those guys have no self-awareness. It seems only class C is relevant.)

(But, there might be an opportunity with the second and third grades...)

(The key lies with Nagumo Masashi and Horikita Manabu.)

......

The phone screen lit up, and the new message notification sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet library.

Long Yuanxiang: How's the investigation going? It's been half a month already, you're not slacking off, are you?

Hiyori Shiina's slender fingers slid lightly across the screen as she replied: Please give me a little more time. All the clues have been gathered; only the final questioning stage remains.

The message was sent and the other party replied immediately.

Ryuen Sho: So you're short-handed? Should we ask Ishizaki to help you?

Upon seeing the name "Ishizaki Daichi," Shiina Hiyori frowned slightly.

The scene from last month flashed before her eyes: Ishizaki Daichi unhesitatingly swung a chair and smashed it against the security camera.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but raise her hand and gently rub her temples.

(Ishizaki is indeed very reliable... but as a research assistant... he doesn't quite meet my requirements.)

Shiina Hiyori hesitated for a moment, then tapped the screen with her fingertip.

Hiyori Shiina: No need, thank you for your kindness.

After sending the message, she put her phone on silent mode.

She loves detective novels, but rather than being obsessed with the moment the truth is revealed, she is more captivated by the process of unraveling the mystery.

Just like in the Sherlock Holmes stories, what made her heart race the most was never the moment when the murderer was finally caught, but every detail that the detective and his doctor friend investigated side by side—Watson recording clues, Holmes deducing the reasoning, and the two exchanging ideas by the fireplace at 221B Baker Street.

(This tacit understanding...this bond...)

Whenever she reads such a passage, she unconsciously holds her breath, as if she can hear her own heart pounding.

Sometimes he would even put down his book and gently raise a non-existent teacup towards the air:

"Cheers to their friendship."

In fact, every time she opens a new mystery novel, she unconsciously puts herself in the detective's perspective.

Search for clues between the lines, and outwit the fictional murderer in the labyrinth created by the author.

Occasionally, when walking on campus, if I see suspicious scraps of paper or unusual footprints, I will subconsciously stop and start weaving a little mystery in my mind.

(If it were Sherlock Holmes... if it were Poirot...)

That's why the gray-haired energy-saving activist in "Hyouka" was so attractive to her.

But reality is not a novel. She didn't meet a rich girl who would say "I'm very curious," nor did she suddenly experience a rosy campus life.

Until—Long Yuanxiang's request.

"Find the person who rented the surveillance footage."

This was the first time she had ever encountered a real case.

However, after half a month, the mountain of clues made her realize clearly that the detective who dances alone has its limits.

"I need a partner... just like Sherlock Holmes needed Watson."

Hiyori Shiina doesn't consider herself dull-witted—reading hundreds of mystery novels allows her to easily see through most of the tricks set up by the authors, and sometimes she can even accurately identify the murderer in the third chapter.

However, there is an insurmountable gap between the world of paper and real life.

The book will present the clues to the reader in a neat and organized manner.

Reality, however, demands that detectives take the initiative, posing questions to strangers and gleaning fragments of the truth from shifty eyes and trembling voices.

For someone whose palms sweat even during everyday conversations, this was tantamount to asking a nightingale to sing in a storm.

Chapter 102: 100 An unexpected encounter with Shimizu-kun, whom I met last time.

In recent days, the idea of ​​an "ideal partner" has gradually taken shape in her mind.

First and foremost, one must be a mystery enthusiast—that goes without saying.

She imagined the two of them arguing heatedly about a secret method in the library in the afternoon, only to smile at each other when a sudden flash of inspiration struck.

(At least you should be able to understand terms like "red herring" and "Knox's Ten Commandments"...)

Kindness is the bottom line; after all, while Holmes may be eccentric, Watson is always warm and reliable.

(The wavelengths of our communication must be in sync...)

If even discussions about "The Tragedy of Y" fall flat, how can we expect to spark intellectual insights during investigations?

Secondly, she must have outstanding communication skills—this is the weakness she most wants to overcome.

The ideal partner should be able to move between the four classes like a social butterfly, easily striking up conversations with everyone from the shyest girls to the fiercest boys.

All she had to do was stand quietly in the shadows, observing her clients like Sherlock Holmes, capturing every unnatural pause and suspicious micro-expression.

(Although it's not 221B Baker Street... this division of labor is perfect...)

Thirdly, it's best if he's a handsome male classmate.

She had carefully studied the chapter on the "halo effect" in "Criminal Psychology"—people with outstanding appearances are indeed more likely to gain the trust of strangers.

As for gender preference, it's purely a pragmatic consideration: when it comes to asking those sweaty, smelly boys in sports clubs, male partners are obviously more advantageous.

Upon realizing this, she hurriedly stopped.

(What am I thinking about...)

Hiyori Shiina buried her face in her palms.

Reality isn't like Poirot; how could a perfect assistant who meets all the criteria just fall from the sky?

But when she looked up, her gaze still unconsciously drifted toward the library door—as if someone carrying a mystery novel would walk in at any moment.

(As expected... reality isn't a coincidence plot like in a mystery novel...)

She sighed softly.

Just then, the glass door of the library was suddenly pushed open, and a clear voice broke the silence like a wind chime.

"Ichinose-san, those guys in Class C are really pushing their luck lately!"

"I cornered Sato-kun at the men's restroom entrance again yesterday..."

"They specifically target boys, and they change their targets every day, making it impossible to guard against!"

Shiina Hiyori looked up slightly and saw a group of people walking towards the study area not far away.

Surrounded by the crowd, the pink-haired girl sat in the center, having already placed her textbook on the table. She said earnestly, "I'll figure something out. Let's focus on studying today, okay? After all, we came to the library specifically for this. Making noise will really affect our efficiency and disturb the other students."

(Ichinose...! The leader of Class B...!)

Shiina Hiyori instinctively shrank her neck, but couldn't help peeking through the gaps in the bookshelf.

The legendary Honami Ichinose was even more dazzling than I had imagined—not in a blinding way, but like the sunlight filtering through a thin curtain in the early morning, gently enveloping the small group.

At that moment, she was clasping her hands together, and this simple action seemed to have a magical effect on her, quieting down the restless students around her.

"Since Ichinose-san has said so..."

"Okay, we'll do whatever you say..."

"You can decide, class monitor."

(Class C...it must have been someone from our class who did it.)

This realization made Hiyori Shiina's ears burn slightly.

Just yesterday, Ryuen Sho gathered the entire class in a karaoke room. "Starting today," he said, tapping the glass coffee table, "I'll be paying special attention to the boys in Class B. I want that woman, Ichinose, to know how terrible the consequences of offending me are. And before we climb up to Class A, we have to crush the rocks in our way first. Class B is getting in our way."

All of this stemmed from the incident last month—Ichinose Honami somehow managed to extract Ryuen Sho's identity from the students of Class C.

This incident thoroughly enraged Long Yuanxiang.

Although Ryuen Sho didn't lay a hand on that classmate out of consideration for her and Ibuki Mio, it was clear to everyone that he didn't intend to let Ichinose Honami off easily.

Moreover, Class B, where the other team is located, is the first opponent that Class C must overcome if it wants to make progress.

Although Shiina Hiyori disapproved of Ryuen Sho's actions, she also knew that trying to persuade him would not only be futile but might also result in her getting beaten up.

She had witnessed firsthand what happened to some of the students in her class.

She had to admit that Long Yuanxiang was now an indispensable member of Class C.

Without him, Class C would be nothing more than a bunch of disorganized hooligans; with him, Class C would truly be qualified to compete with other classes.

But Shiina Hiyori quickly suppressed these thoughts—her current focus was on investigating the surveillance incident.

Through the gaps in the bookshelf, Honami Ichinose was diligently guiding her classmate in solving a problem.

(Ichinose-san must know some clues! She was the one who contacted Class C that day, and then Ryuen Sho received a friend notification. In other words, she definitely knows that mysterious person, or even... she herself might be that mysterious person!)

This crucial clue instantly connected in my mind, and the suspect became clear.

Although Shiina Hiyori was eager to go up and talk to him, her feet seemed to be nailed to the spot.

With people coming and going around her, she never had the courage to speak up in front of so many people; moreover, she was in Class C, and the other person had just been harassed by a classmate from Class C. If she went over rashly, she would probably only be met with a cold shoulder.

Various concerns weighed heavily on her mind, making it impossible for her to take any action.

At that moment, Shiina Hiyori suddenly noticed that Ichinose Honami had paused for a moment, then stood up and smiled brightly: "Shimizu-kun? What a coincidence! Are you here to study at the library today too?"

Shiina Hiyori followed her gaze and saw a boy walking towards her.

The other person was about 1.85 meters tall, only half a head shorter than Yamada in the class, but had distinct facial features; his back was straight, showing that he had been exercising for a long time, and he had a calm expression on his face.

"Want to study together?"

"No, I didn't actually come here specifically to study." The boy waved his hand. "I suddenly became interested in mystery books a few days ago, so I came to look for some. You guys go ahead with your work."

“Alright.” Ichinose Honami nodded slightly, her tone carrying a hint of obvious regret. “Since Shimizu-kun says so, then we won’t bother you any longer.”

Shiina Hiyori watched through the gap in the bookshelf as the boy walked towards her step by step, and was immediately stunned.

She and the other person naturally knew each other.

Last month, it was at her suggestion that the other party chose the Chinese language tutoring textbook.

Chapter 103: 101 Shimizu Akira: Don't laugh, hold it in! Everything is going according to plan.

Akira Shimizu came to the library not to find mystery books—he came specifically to find Hiyori Shiina from Class C.

That's why he declined Ichinose's invitation from Class B and instead went to the mystery book shelf.

(So ​​that's where it was.)

He thought it would take some effort to find it, but to his surprise, Hiyori Shiina was standing on the other side of the bookshelf, holding the classic "Murder on the Orient Express" in her hand.

"Shimizu-kun... It's nice to see you again." Shiina Hiyori closed her book and spoke first.

"Shiina-kun, good afternoon." Shimizu Akira's tone was normal. "I didn't expect to run into you at the library, what a coincidence. Speaking of which, I remember you said last time you had something to do and wouldn't be coming to the library—are you done with your work?"

This is a lie.