Dropping Out in the Classroom of Real Skills

"No, I'm just stating facts, isn't it just the inevitable outcome?"

"Not necessarily. I have ways to drop out, and I will definitely drop out. To get revenge on you, I'll completely ruin Class D before I leave."

"If that really doesn't work, how about we treat it as a transaction?"

Hirata seemed to have found a way to communicate with Bai Lan, and tentatively said, "Starting next month, as long as you stay in school, I'll give you 80,000 yen every month. And, if you need anything, I'll do my best to help you, as long as it doesn't violate my principles. Even if you get expelled for breaking rules, I'll help you. This is a transaction!"

Hirata pleaded.

"A transaction?" Bai Lan thought about it.

Because of the misunderstanding over the past two days, most people in Class D would have a favorable impression of him in a short period.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling person.

In this situation, Bai Lan felt a bit too embarrassed to do anything to them. He already had the idea of giving up on the "battlefield" within the class and moving to the outside.

As long as Hirata didn't adopt a "threatening" attitude, Bai Lan didn't mind going with the flow.

With that in mind, Bai Lan shrugged, "Alright, I'll try not to 'actively' disrupt the non-existent unity of Class D. But if anyone actively provokes me, I'll 'passively' retaliate."

"No problem, after all, I can't ask you to endure humiliation. I just hope you'll show a little restraint."

"As for living expenses, forget it. 80,000 yen a month starting next month? I doubt I'll last that long. Don't forget, once I need you, you have to help me. This is the transaction!"

Hirata nodded, "Understood, transaction! No hard feelings!"

50. Urgently Needs a Shield

And so, Bai Lan and Hirata reached a "transaction."

After the deal was struck, Bai Lan couldn't help but remark, "You seem to have become much more decisive? Is it because you accepted my suggestion and tried to 'neutralize' the two extremes?"

"No, it's mainly because talking to you is too expensive, and I don't have time to hesitate."

"Then, for efficiency, we should charge for all our conversations from now on."

"No!"

"Alright, you've exceeded the time limit for the extra charge of 10,000 yen. The total for this service is 60,000 yen. Pay up quickly."

The next day.

Bai Lan looked at the pink envelope that had appeared in his shoe locker.

He felt that before he moved his focus to outside the class, he still needed to deal with the "battlefield" within Class D a bit.

He had to quickly find a suitable female (sh)i(eld) (girl)friend!

Bai Lan rummaged through the pink envelopes, trying to find something like a challenge letter.

It had been two days since he "bullied the class beauty," and rumors had even spread. In his opinion, the simps should have reacted by now, right?

To his surprise, there was nothing.

He impatiently opened the pink envelopes to check, trying to find anything that might be disguised as a love letter but was actually a challenge.

Again, he found nothing resembling one.

That Horikita, did she really do nothing?!

After confirming there were no challenge letters, Bai Lan began to deal with these love letters.

Thinking for a moment, he quickly took out the class roster that Kushida had given him.

For anyone whose name was on a love letter, he would directly send a message saying, "You're a good person," thus ending this... these mistaken love affairs born from misunderstandings.

As for those without names, he'd just ignore them.

Bai Lan walked towards the classroom, contemplating how to acquire a qualified fake girlfriend.

Bai Lan had actually considered Kushida.

Because Kushida had already shown her dark side beneath her innocent facade, she clearly wasn't incapable of fighting love rivals.

Furthermore, due to the misunderstanding, she was now acting very respectfully and fearfully towards Bai Lan. It was unlikely that a romantic relationship would develop, unless she was a masochist.

Finally, Bai Lan held leverage over her, and she still had something to ask of him, guaranteeing her loyalty.

However, considering Kushida's goal was to become a "campus idol" loved by everyone, and idols generally couldn't have public relationships.

Without even thinking, Bai Lan knew Kushida would never agree, so he dismissed her from consideration.

In reality, Bai Lan already had someone in mind.

The moment he walked into the classroom, Bai Lan was met with gazes that were countless times more intense than yesterday.

Upon learning that these well-intentioned gazes were merely due to a misunderstanding, Bai Lan felt inexplicably... guilty.

Bai Lan looked towards a certain seat.

Soon, he saw a pair of very assertive and aggressive eyes.

Seeing this, Bai Lan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, you haven't changed."

"Karuizawa."

"That's right."

The Gyaru leader—Kei Karuizawa—was Bai Lan's new target!

Bai Lan and Kei Karuizawa stared at each other for a few seconds.

Bai Lan tried to discern a hint of "shyness" in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Kei Karuizawa.

Kei Karuizawa was a little flustered.

No, she was extremely flustered.

"Why does classmate Bai always look at me like that? His gaze is like a knife, as if he's trying to dissect me? Did he figure something out?"

"No! I can't act guilty. I was so assertive at first; if I suddenly back down, it'll definitely make people suspicious, and they'll try to bully me again!"

"Mei! Don't be scared, stare back. Classmate Bai is a good person, he won't bully me anyway."

"Wait! It seems like a lot of people in the class like classmate Bai. If I confront him like this, won't those people bully me to try and win his favor? Maybe I should just back down first? It's normal to back down to classmate Bai, right?"

"No, no, I can't back down, I have to stay strong..."

"Ahhh! Quite a few people noticed me staring at classmate Bai, I'm doomed!"

"Ahhh! What should I do? Classmate Bai, please stop looking at me! I'm scared!"

Just as Kei Karuizawa was about to cry again.

Bai Lan noticed that Kei Karuizawa, who was meeting his gaze, not only didn't back down at all but even glared more intensely, her hostility continuously rising.

Bai Lan nodded with satisfaction in his heart, then was the first to break eye contact.

"Not bad, worthy of being the shield I've chosen. I hope you're just as strong against other 'love rivals'."

The shield had passed inspection.

Now, the issue of "price" needed to be considered.

What was the "price" for your "loyalty"?

When Kei Karuizawa saw that Bai Lan had "retreated" first, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She had successfully maintained her "strong Gyaru" persona once again.

Returning to his seat, Bai Lan took out his phone, opened his contacts, and sent a message to Kushida:

"Before school ends today, I want all the information on Kei Karuizawa."

It's great to have tools to use!

After sending the message.

The next moment.

Ding dong~

An electronic chime sounded beside Bai Lan.

Bai Lan turned to look.

It was Kushida.

Kushida had somehow appeared beside Bai Lan's neighbor's desk.

That is, beside Horikita's desk.

Seeing Bai Lan look at her, Kushida first sent him her signature gentle and approachable little angel smile, then opened her phone and read Bai Lan's just-sent message in front of him.

After reading it, the smile on Kushida's face turned into a question mark.

Kushida cast a very subtle, questioning glance at Bai Lan.

You want Karuizawa's information for what reason?

Bai Lan turned to look out the window, indicating with his actions—None of your business?

Seeing this, Kushida subtly withdrew her gaze and stopped asking, while quickly replying to the message on her phone.

300 million yen for 430 million rescue.

Soon, Bai Lan's phone received a message.

"Received. Also, classmate Bai, I'm going up!"

Going up?

Going up for what?

Soon, Bai Lan realized.