In the Real World, I Just Want to Drop Out - Part 36

Bai Lan was even more confused.

Putting aside the matters of "noon" and "manipulation" for now.

What was Hirata asking you all to hide from me?

No wonder he felt everyone in the class was reacting so strangely!

So there was something going on here!

From Kushida's words, it seemed Hirata was targeting him and plotting something?

Hirata, who looked so honest, could actually trick the entire class into playing along with him?

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What exactly was going on?

No! He had to figure this out today!

With that thought, Bai Lan anxiously asked, "Kushida, tell me everything you know about what Hirata asked you all to hide from me!"

Seeing Bai Lan acting as if he knew nothing, Kushida looked a little puzzled.

Could it be that Hirata wasn't part of Bai Lan's calculations?

Bai Lan always left room for plausible deniability in his words and actions, and Hirata always stepped in to find those points and clear Bai Lan's name. Was this just a coincidence?

That shouldn't be the case!

At this moment, Kushida suddenly thought of something and a look of sudden realization crossed her face.

She understood!

Bai Lan was asking for her pledge of allegiance!

Bai Lan knew everything.

But Bai Lan still wanted her to personally confess what Hirata had made the class keep secret from Bai Lan. By doing this, as if "betraying the class," she would show her stance of being "on Bai Lan's side" as a sign of her sincere surrender!

42. In a daze, Shackles Placed Unknowingly

After considering Bai Lan's possible intentions, Kushida didn't say anything further.

She would obediently be a tool, answering whatever Bai Lan asked and doing nothing extra.

Soon, Kushida recounted to Bai Lan the two "whitewashing meetings" Hirata had held with them that morning and after school.

The more he listened, the tighter Bai Lan's brow furrowed.

What "communication disorder"?

What "sharp tongue but kind heart"?

What "personal demonstration of a reverse case study"?

They could whitewash even this?

No wonder his plan to attract hate had failed!

So the girls in Class D who had shown him kindness weren't actually romance-brained girls who liked "overbearing CEOs," they were just fooled by Hirata.

He had actually become the tsundere guy with a tough exterior but a soft heart?

What a humiliation!

Moreover, according to Kushida, after the second meeting after school, the situation in the class had become even more severe than in the morning.

Not only the girls, but many boys had also started openly expressing their admiration for Bai Lan, praising him to others in private.

It had even become a kind of culture, custom, or the "correct" thing to do in class to praise Bai Lan.

If you met someone and didn't praise them, you were considered unsociable and incorrect.

Thinking of this, Bai Lan finally lost his composure, his face instantly contorting into a mask of pain.

Bai Lan desperately wanted to curse someone, and the first person that came to mind was Hirata, who had ruined his plan to attract hate.

"Hirata Yosuke! I f***..."

But as the words reached his lips, Bai Lan suddenly felt unable to utter them.

Even though Hirata had ruined Bai Lan's plan, Bai Lan couldn't bring himself to hate him. He couldn't see him as an enemy at all.

Rather, Bai Lan even felt a little moved.

After all, no matter how he looked at it, what the other person was doing was helping Bai Lan!

Moreover, Bai Lan could see that Hirata's two attempts to whitewash him, while seemingly perfect and pleasing to everyone, were actually fraught with huge hidden dangers!

The reason Hirata had managed to fool everyone in the class twice in a row was successful.

It was mainly because the semester hadn't started for long, and everyone didn't know Bai Lan yet.

Because everyone's understanding of Bai Lan was almost a blank slate, Hirata could interpret this blank paper however he wanted, shaping it into whatever image he desired.

But as time went on, and Bai Lan revealed more and more information.

The others in the class would eventually discover that the information Bai Lan presented was riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies compared to Hirata's analysis.

One day, Hirata would no longer be able to hide the truth and would face the condemnation of those who realized they had been deceived.

Hirata's reputation, carefully built over time, would crumble.

Bai Lan could never have imagined that Hirata would expend so much effort and take such great risks to resolve the conflict between Bai Lan and the rest of Class D, pulling Bai Lan out of a "dangerous situation" where everyone was against him!

Hirata was fooling the class into believing Bai Lan was a good person who "sacrificed himself"?

And Bai Lan wanted to say to Hirata, "You're talking about yourself, aren't you?"

Although Bai Lan didn't know Hirata's motives or thought process, It was undeniable that Hirata had bestowed upon Bai Lan a favor so immense it felt overwhelmingly heavy.

No matter how much Bai Lan didn't want it, he had to accept this kindness.

Bai Lan disliked owing others.

Once he accepted someone's goodwill, he had to find a way to repay it, otherwise, he would feel uneasy. The more he owed, the more uncomfortable he became.

Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay, and if not handled properly, he wouldn't even be able to drop out of school with peace of mind.

"At the very least, I need to help Hirata defuse this 'time bomb' that was planted because of me,"

Bai Lan made a silent decision, sighing inwardly, "I took all sorts of precautions, yet when I came to my senses, I was still unknowingly shackled, forming connections with these people that I can't easily sever. And it happened precisely because of my precautions... How ironic."

Coming back to his senses, Bai Lan refocused his attention on Kushida and found her looking at him with beaming delight.

Her expression was like that of a puppy who had just fetched a frisbee, looking up expectantly for a head pat and praise.

Seeing Bai Lan look at her, Kushida quickly said, "Bai-kun, is there anything else you want to know? If I know it, I'll tell you everything. Can you consider teaching me then?"

What else did Bai Lan want to know?

Bai Lan wanted to know: why did Kushida, who had planned to threaten him at noon, suddenly give up and become so obedient?

Was there some concern that prevented her from threatening him?

Was it because of the so-called "ultimate skill for making friends"?

Or were there other reasons?

If possible, Bai Lan intended to clear up her misunderstanding and resolve her concerns, so she could continue to threaten him with dropping out.

With the goal of extracting information, Bai Lan said, "You want to learn? It's not impossible."

Kushida's eyes lit up.

Then, Bai Lan added, "But are you qualified? Even if I'm willing to teach you, you might not be able to learn it!"

The light in Kushida's eyes dimmed slightly.

"However, the fact that you could see my 'way out' in the situation shows you have some potential."

Hearing this, Kushida smiled.

"But it's not enough to prove you meet the standard."

Kushida's expression turned serious. "Then how can I prove I meet the standard?"

Bai Lan: "Let me test you. First, tell me how much of my strategy today you understood. Don't lie, because if you lie, you'll never get another chance!"

Kushida: So, as long as I don't lie, I'll still have a chance even if I fail this time?!

The advantage is mine!

Kushida's spirits lifted.

"Yes!"

Soon, Kushida recounted, in detail, the entire process from realizing Bai Lan's "scheme" to being convinced by Bai Lan's "teachings."

Bai Lan summarized it: Kushida had mistaken the evidence and lost it. It was her own fault, but she didn't consider herself "stupid," so she imagined Bai Lan to be incredibly capable and blamed the situation on him.

It was a coincidence, a misunderstanding.

Since it was a misunderstanding, it should have been easy to clarify.

Although, the crucial evidence was already gone...

Fortunately, Bai Lan still held something that Kushida wanted him to keep quiet about. After clearing up the misunderstanding, perhaps Kushida could try again and find some evidence to threaten him with.

Although Bai Lan wouldn't actively do such a thing, he could cooperate if he were framed.

It was a shame that if he hadn't subconsciously held back when he pulled Kushida up earlier, wouldn't she have had more evidence?

Since the evidence was gone and Kushida could no longer get him to drop out, it meant—

Kushida-san, you're useless now!

43. Kushida's Past Exposed

Kushida-san, you're useless now!

Thinking this, Bai Lan's expression instantly changed, and he cut straight to the chase:

"Actually, I don't understand those so-called methods of making friends you mentioned at all. I was just trying to trick you into talking earlier."