I Only Want to Drop Out of Real School

And even if they knew what kind of person Bai Lan was, so what?

The conflict between Bai Lan and the class remained.

If mutual understanding led to peaceful coexistence, there wouldn't be wars in the world.

In his opinion, rather than helping Hirata understand Bai Lan, it would be simpler to directly help Hirata resolve the conflict between Bai Lan and the class.

Ayanokoji quickly came up with a plan.

After thinking of a solution, Ayanokoji didn't reveal it immediately, as it didn't fit his "ordinary person" persona.

Ayanokoji decided to package himself, finding a reason for how an "ordinary person" like him could solve a problem that even an excellent person like Hirata couldn't...

16. Classmate Bai Lan has communication difficulties?

Ayanokoji: "Classmate Hirata, have you ever considered one thing? Classmate Bai is an international student from China."

Hirata: "China? Could it be because of history..."

"No, no, no! If that were the case, he wouldn't have come to study abroad, would he? What I mean is, could it be that his Japanese isn't very good?"

"No way? He speaks quite fluently, doesn't he?"

"He told me that he only scored... 44 on the Japanese Language entrance exam."

"44 points?"

Japanese Language class in Japan naturally teaches the Japanese language, and Japanese is a skill that Japanese citizens use every day from childhood. Even without special study, the score wouldn't usually be too low.

"Then it seems his Japanese really isn't very good..." After hearing the score of "44," Hirata immediately accepted this explanation: "A normal person with his Japanese level would score around sixty points even in a casual test. And... wow~ He even told you this. It seems you two really have a good relationship."

"..."

Ayanokoji thought to himself: It seems I can't keep getting 50 in Japanese Language from now on. For this subject, one needs sixty points to be considered "normal"; just passing isn't enough.

Then, Ayanokoji continued, "He probably has no problem with daily communication, but he can't always use the precise and appropriate vocabulary.

When choosing words, he only cares about the meaning and doesn't pay much attention to parts of speech or context. Also, in China, when communicating equally, people aren't as formal and polite as we are.

He even has a habit of using certain curse words as interjections, like 'wo-cao,' 'kao,' 'ni-ma,' 'bibi,' 'bibi'..."

"Perhaps when he uses curse words, he's not actually cursing, but just communicating normally, with just a tiny bit more intensity.

Is this... a cultural difference?

For various reasons, he probably has something called 'communication disorder' with us."

"Communication disorder?"

"Actually, I used to be like that, and I still am..."

That's right, shared suffering and prolonged illness lead to a cure. This was Ayanokoji's method of concealing his abilities.

This way, people would at most assume that Ayanokoji merely understood "fellow sufferers" with "communication disorder" and wouldn't suspect his true capabilities.

Moreover, he could create a persona of having "communication disorder."

With this persona as protection, any future lack of common sense he displayed wouldn't seem out of place.

After all, someone with "communication disorder" would have difficulty interacting with others, making them seem out of touch with the world and ignorant of common sense, wouldn't that be normal?

Killing two birds with one stone!

Ayanokoji continued, "In the past, when I interacted with people, I couldn't use words well and was eager to express myself. A hasty word would be mistaken for some kind of impolite metaphor.

Then, I'm also bad at explaining... so I couldn't clarify.

Then, I was ostracized...

Over the years, I've been surrounded by those kinds of people.

I've been isolated for so many years."

Ayanokoji spoke these words with a blank expression.

But Hirata felt a sense of loneliness from him, deeply moved:

"I'm sorry... Classmate Ayanokoji, but don't worry, we'll definitely become good friends from now on! We'll also help you become friends with everyone!"

Ayanokoji felt like he should cry at that moment, but after a couple of whimpers, he couldn't actually cry. In the end, he could only nod with a self-deprecating expression, as if he had grown accustomed to it, or rather, become numb.

Hirata continued, "So, you think Classmate Bai Lan has communication disorder? He didn't originally mean those harsh words, but because his vocabulary was insufficient, he couldn't find a word that fit the context and expressed his intended meaning. But because he was in a hurry to use a word, he just grabbed one that seemed close enough, but in our understanding, was completely wrong...

Classmate Bai didn't intend to curse, he just sounded disrespectful because he used the wrong words.

So, when we communicate with him, we should first ignore all the subjective elements in his sentences.

Only listen to the essence, only look at what real and useful information his words provide us, and how much harmful information is mixed in that attempts to lead us in an unfavorable direction."

Hirata looked enlightened: "I understand! Let's try it. Let's re-understand Classmate Bai Lan using this method!"

Ayanokoji: "Also, I think... we shouldn't just look at what he says, but also at what he does, what changes he brings to the class, good or bad..."

After a discussion.

Under Ayanokoji's guidance, Hirata began to translate Bai Lan's "encrypted speech."

Hirata: "First, it's obvious that Classmate Bai revealed the school's trap, making everyone understand that living expenses are related to their usual performance, encouraging self-restraint and preventing them from indulging."

"Next, Classmate Bai's words, though unpleasant to hear, actually pointed out the severe situation our class is currently in: out of 40 people, less than ten possess good self-control. The remaining thirty-plus are unable to control themselves. Even if they know violating rules will cost points, they probably can't help but break them..."

"Looking at it this way, Classmate Bai Lan has indeed made a great contribution to the class. If it weren't for his words, everyone would have been lulled into the school's sweet trap, only to find their living expenses wiped out next month... Although his way of speaking isn't pleasant, it can be seen as 'bitter advice.' Moreover, as Classmate Bai might be experiencing communication barriers due to poor Japanese, just as Classmate Ayanokoji mentioned, even 'bitter advice' is completely understandable."

"I actually think this kind of 'bitter advice' might be more powerful than being tactful..." Ayanokoji interjected.

"I understand everything else, but..." At this moment, Hirata once again showed a confused expression: "What was the purpose of his 'three violations'? And why specifically skipping class and leaving early?"

Hirata turned to look at Ayanokoji, his eyes seeming to say: As a fellow "communication barrier" case like Bai Lan, Classmate Ayanokoji, please put yourself in his shoes? If it were you, under what circumstances would you do something like that?

Hirata: Hurry up and use your invincible "communication barrier" to think of a solution! Classmate Ayanokoji!

Ayanokoji: ...Why are you making things so difficult for me, a "communication barrier" person?

17. Hirata: Classmate Bai Lan actually... I'm so touched (requesting votes~)

Ayanokoji sighed inwardly, put on a thoughtful expression again, and then said:

"You can think of it this way: after Classmate Bai scolded the entire class, he implicitly became the 'bottom line' for everyone in the class, someone isolated by the entire class. Many school bullying incidents start this way."

Upon hearing the word "bullying," the water cup in Hirata's hand let out another mournful cry.

"What? Bullying? Absolutely not! This cannot happen in our Class D!"

Ayanokoji seemed to understand something.

But now was not the time to agitate the other person.

"Don't worry..." Ayanokoji quickly said, "Classmate Bai is very clever. He used this point in reverse. He appears to have become the target of bullying for everyone. But in reality, I think he's more like using the terrifying elements of bullying as a weapon.

He disguised himself as a 'prey' about to be bullied. In reality, those who tried to bully him were the prey. He used the principles of bullying to control everyone in the class in reverse!"

"What do you mean?" Hirata couldn't understand: How could a target who might be bullied end up controlling everyone who wanted to bully him?

Ayanokoji explained: "Look.

Since Classmate Bai has become the 'bottom line,' any opposition from anyone in the class towards him is seen as natural and politically correct.

Conversely, any behavior similar to Classmate Bai's will be categorized by the entire class as 'the same as Bai Lan,' an object that the whole class can target. This is natural and politically correct.

To avoid being targeted by the group, others will not want to be categorized as being like Classmate Bai.

Things that Classmate Bai likes to do, they will try their best not to do.

And the deepest impressions Classmate Bai left on the entire class were his arrogance and rule-breaking.

Once someone acts arrogant or breaks rules, people will easily associate it with Bai Lan, and then use insults like 'scolding people' or 'breaking rules' to compare them to Bai Lan.

To avoid isolation, everyone will subconsciously avoid an arrogant attitude and avoid breaking rules in a way similar to, or even more serious than, Classmate Bai.

If someone is even more 'Bai Lan' than Bai Lan, doesn't that mean that person's behavior has crossed the 'bottom line of conduct'?"

"So that's how it is..." Hirata suddenly understood, and then a flash of inspiration struck him, as if he thought of something: "Classmate Bai Lan's three violations are equivalent to drawing a red line for everyone in the class! Putting on a restrictive spell!

The number 'three' is also just right; it doesn't make it too difficult. If you're not careful, you become 'Bai Lan.' There's room for maneuver. Otherwise, if many people had already violated the rules once from the start, and everyone became 'Bai Lan,' it would be as if no one was 'Bai Lan.'

Moreover, these two violations were not without cost. Each violation means they are becoming more 'Bai Lan.' To avoid becoming 'Bai Lan,' they will try their best not to violate the rules even once!

The number of violations will become a kind of 'ranking basis.'

Those with no violations are higher than those with violations.

Those with one violation are higher than those with two violations.

As for three violations...

No, everyone's violation bottom line is actually only two!

Because once you violate the rules three times, you become 'Bai Lan.'

With only two chances, people will feel a high sense of urgency, and at the same time, because there is room for maneuver, they won't be so tense that they choose to give up completely."

"Makes sense," Ayanokoji said.

Ayanokoji didn't care about the truth; he just wanted to give Hirata an "explanation" that he was willing to accept and that could resolve the current conflict, so he could send him away.

At this moment, Hirata seemed to remember something else:

"Right! Classmate Ayanokoji, do you remember that Classmate Bai first spent points to buy information from Teacher Chazhu about the penalties for being late, leaving early, and skipping class? After reading this information, he temporarily decided to skip class twice and leave early once, totaling two violations."

"Yes."

Hirata: "Is there any deeper meaning behind this?"

"It's probably because leaving early and skipping class are more noticeable. The teacher will call roll when they see someone missing."

"There's probably that reason, but I've also thought of another possibility..." Hirata's gaze deepened: "The severity represented by different violations is actually different. The severity of leaving early is clearly lower than skipping class.

The severity of two skipped classes and one early departure is clearly less than three skipped classes.

Did Classmate Bai discover something after reading the information, such as: once violations equivalent to three skipped classes accumulate, it will lead to certain serious consequences?

And two early departures or being late is greater than or equal to one skipped class.

Therefore, he chose two skipped classes and one early departure."

"..." Ayanokoji: "Perhaps."