"Everything you said is just what you think. Give me something practical. Are you saying that although he talks unpleasantly, he's actually willing to help others?
I don't believe it. What happened in the classroom yesterday was probably just a coincidence. He was only trying to enjoy the feeling of running his mouth, showing off on purpose, and accidentally letting me learn that information.
So all that information was something we obtained through our own 'ability,' after paying the price for it.
If you're so capable, give me another example of him helping someone."
19. Sudo's Assist: Clearing Bai Lan's Name, but Ruining His Reputation
The speaker was a boy with slanted bangs.
Although Class D had not yet gone through the self-introduction process, he was something of a "celebrity" in class, so many students knew the boy's name— IKE Kanji.
However, although he was famous, it was not for anything good.
He was one of the main instigators of the gossip group from yesterday—the one that had shamelessly commented on the girls' figures without caring that they were present, and had eventually gotten into an argument with the Gyaru group after they could no longer stand it.
If Bai Lan had not suddenly appeared, Ike Kanji and his group of cronies would have been the most hated and despised group in the class.
Ike Kanji and his little clique were the people least willing to see Bai Lan's standing in class rise.
After all, once Bai Lan rose up, there would be no one beneath them.
Bai Lan might even become a second Hirata.
Ike did not want another Hirata in the class.
Because he hated Hirata.
More precisely, he hated every boy who was more popular with girls than he was, equally.
Therefore, he hated any boy who had even a little charm and was liked by girls.
On top of that, he was a serious "disciplinary liability."
Whether it was to suppress Hirata and Bai Lan so he could stand out, or to avoid strict disciplinary control, he had to reject what Hirata was saying.
After hearing Ike's question.
Hirata opened his mouth, but unexpectedly could not say anything.
To be honest, the question was simply too difficult.
After all, everyone had been at school for less than twenty-four hours. At this time yesterday, they had all still been on the road!
How could they have had time to do so many good deeds?
Besides, Hirata had only spent half of the entrance orientation with Bai Lan. Even if Bai Lan had helped someone, Hirata would not have known about it!
Hirata looked troubled. "Ike, your question..."
However, just then, someone completely unexpected spoke up:
"He helped me."
Everyone turned to look.
They saw a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a buzz cut.
"Sudo? You... which side are you on?" Ike protested.
Sudo. Sudo Ken.
He was the very person who had forgotten his student ID at the convenience store yesterday. Bai Lan had paid for him, though the help had nearly made Sudo want to hit him.
Actually, Sudo had not given it much thought. He had merely realized that, for once, he knew a "fact" that nobody else knew—something only he knew. The urge to show off became too much, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out what had happened.
Seeing his friend's reproachful gaze, Sudo was about to explain.
But Hirata spoke first. "Sudo, could you tell us about it?"
Sudo noticed the curious, expectant looks everyone was giving him. It made him feel as though he were a superstar.
Ignoring his friend's resentful glare, Sudo answered as if showing off. "At the convenience store, I forgot my student ID, so Bai Lan used his student ID to pay the points for me.
After paying, I saw him pull up his personal page on his phone and ask me to scan it.
I was even wondering whether I should be magnanimous and forgive him.
But then he told me to add his account and transfer the money to him on my phone. He made me pay him back!
If there hadn't been so many people around and I hadn't wanted to keep the class from losing points, I would've wanted to beat him up."
With everyone's attention on him, Sudo felt as if he were floating on air and poured out everything that had happened, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.
After hearing him out, Hirata smiled. "See? Bai is actually very kindhearted. He just isn't good with words. He clearly helped someone, yet he still managed to make that person angry. Besides, borrowing money and paying it back is perfectly normal. There's no need to get angry..."
With this real-life example, everyone suddenly found Hirata's words much more believable.
"So Bai really did help Sudo."
"And he even helped Sudo!"
"Yeah! He was willing to help even Sudo."
Sudo:!!!
"What do you idiots mean by that?" Sudo could not help shouting at the people who had just spoken. "Do you have some problem with me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" A girl stood up and said, "Your face is scary, your temper is terrible, and the way you talk isn't any nicer than Bai's. You look like some delinquent. When normal people see you, they want to go around you for fear of getting into trouble. Who would usually have anything to do with you, let alone take the initiative to pay for you?"
"That's true! When you put it that way, Bai is actually a really good person, isn't he? He doesn't bully the weak, either. His words may be harsh, but he's actually kind, and he's handsome too."
"Yeah, he's really handsome~ I thought he was scary before, but looking at him now, isn't this just a tsundere? A cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside tsundere. That's such an interesting character type."
"Whether he's handsome or not doesn't matter. I mainly like people with excellent character who are willing to help others. A sharp tongue is fine too. It can be a kind of charm."
"You don't mean..."
"Can't I just think about it?"
For a time, the girls' opinion of Bai Lan soared.
As for the boys.
Some of them expressed respect for Bai Lan's actions, but most of them felt... jealous.
"Damn it! It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since school started, and he didn't even put in as much time as Hirata, yet he's already won the favor of so many girls! Damn it!"
"Wait! I just remembered something... Hahaha, you girls can forget about it! Yesterday, I think I saw Bai Lan walking out of the convenience store with a girl, flirting with her the whole way! I think she was Horikita from our class."
"Huh?"
"Horikita?"
Everyone turned to look at the seatmate beside the vacant seat where the truant Bai Lan usually sat in the last row of the classroom.
At that moment, Horikita Suzune was flipping through her textbook and beginning to preview the lesson.
Hearing someone mention her name, Horikita instinctively raised her head. At the same time, she habitually tucked the black hair that had fallen across her face from looking down at her book behind her ear, revealing a beautiful face whose bewitching charm could not be hidden even by her cool expression.
Many of the boys stared blankly. When they came to their senses, they gnashed their teeth. That Bai Lan bastard—damn him!
Seeing everyone staring at her, Horikita did not back down. She glared back, then frowned and said coldly, "Your atmosphere is polluting me. To be honest, it's disgusting."
For a moment, the boys no longer envied Bai Lan. Instead, they felt that Bai Lan was amazing.
"Someone like Horikita actually flirted with Bai? No way, right?"
"Wasn't he afraid she'd verbally tear him apart?""
"It must be fake. Bai is sharp-tongued too. I suspect they were just trading insults with each other, right?"
"Or maybe Bai is a closeted M? Maybe this is just what he likes. He does things that make people hate him because he wants others to insult him. The more abuse he takes, the more excited he gets?"
"Hey—???"
Bai Lan's reputation had been ruined.
"Oh, right!" Hirata spoke again. "I hope everyone can keep Bai's secret for now and not let him know that we've already figured out his intentions.
After all, his plan can only work if everyone remains unaware.
If we expose him, Bai will definitely feel that all his efforts were pointless and be very disappointed.
It's all my fault. I didn't want to see everyone at each other's throats and Bai hated by the class, so I couldn't stop myself from telling you.
Compared with points and rankings, I care more about the unity and harmony of the class.
Please don't expose Bai. As long as you don't treat him with hostility, that's enough.
Of course, if you can perform better, get good scores and rankings, and give Bai a pleasant surprise, that would be even better. At the same time, everyone will be able to receive more living expenses."
Everyone agreed.
Chabashira watched everything from the sidelines.
Chabashira did not believe that this was truly Bai Lan's intention.
But she knew that, for the class, it was indeed the most acceptable "truth" at present.
Besides that, Chabashira could not shake the feeling that these "truths" were not something Hirata could have analyzed on his own...
Could Bai Lan have secretly approached Hirata and asked him to play the good cop to his bad cop?
Or was there someone else?
Soon.
The first class ended.
Not long afterward, the second class ended as well.
Before the bell for the third class rang.
Bai Lan arrived at the door of Class D right on time.
20. Was Class D Full of Love-Brained Idiots? Gyaru Who Were All Bark and No Bite
Bai Lan arrived at the door of Class D right on time.
He had already prepared himself to face the hostile stares of the entire class.
However, when he walked into the classroom, he realized that something was wrong...
Before you continue