The Fever at Shuchiin.

Sunohara at Shuchiin, a glance around gave him a feeling of being on top of the world.

His wish has indeed come true!

I originally thought it was just an urban legend, but I never expected it to actually happen.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be great if I could switch lives with Hasegawa!"

He couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

That person was someone countless people in Shuchiin envied, and he was no exception.

However, he only thought about it; he couldn't bring himself to actually use trickery and deception to get Hasegawa to accompany him to make a wish.

"Now, enjoy this brand new life!"

Sunohara strode forward, his tall stature attracting the attention of many.

He was originally 1.67 meters tall, but now he is 1.8 meters tall, making him quite a rare figure in the academy.

"He's so tall!"

"Hey, is he a freshman? I've never seen him before."

"It's a shame someone that tall doesn't play basketball."

Hearing the girls' surprised chatter, Sunohara's lips curled into a smile.

As someone who rarely attracts attention, he has never been one to draw any eye.

"Huh, you're... Sunohara? You're actually this tall!"

When he arrived at class, acquaintances who saw him couldn't help but become suspicious.

"I've been growing recently, so I've grown a little taller."

Sunohara could only give an awkward smile and choose a lame excuse.

"Really? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were wearing height-increasing shoes."

The other person looked down at his feet and, after confirming that he was wearing indoor shoes, exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, you'll get used to it."

He managed to fool them.

Others also looked over, sparking a discussion.

But that's all.

"Not enough!"

Sunohara was not satisfied with the current situation; he had not forgotten his goal of wanting to grow taller.

Today we had a PE class, and some boys from our class teamed up with students from other classes for a 5v5 game.

"Count me in."

He raised his hand in acknowledgment.

His classmates glanced at his height and naturally chose to let him play as the main player.

He was already quite athletic and had played basketball before, so his height gave him a significant advantage, allowing him to easily lead his team to victory against the opposing basketball enthusiasts.

"See that? That's the difference between me and you!"

Sunohara tucked the basketball under his arm and made a taunting thumbs-down gesture to attract the attention of the girls watching the game.

"Tch! What are you pretending for, you big dummy!"

"Mana good? Why haven't I seen you in the Basketball Club?"

"You're crazy! So arrogant, do you think you're Hasegawa?"

"That's right, if it were Hasegawa, you wouldn't even score a single goal."

Students from other classes, feeling deeply humiliated, responded with sarcastic remarks and mockery.

"Then call Hasegawa!"

Under the influence of anger, Sunohara, who was very concerned about saving face, said...

Suddenly, the field fell silent.

Why are you all so quiet?

He looked puzzled, and after noticing everyone's gaze, he trembled and looked away to the side.

"I'm here, what's wrong?"

Hasegawa Izumi asked in a calm tone.

"Hasegawa-kun, Sunohara says he wants to challenge you!"

Some classmates were making a fuss there.

Is it true?

"Bro, I was just kidding!"

Sunohara dared not agree, and scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.

"I see."

As Hasegawa Izumi turned to leave, her gaze fell upon him, and her expression subtly changed.

"That's it!"

"Sunohara, weren't you so arrogant? Why do you wilted as soon as you saw Hasegawa?"

"If you're so capable, challenge Hasegawa!"

The mocking voices were heard again.

Sunohara sighed helplessly and spread his hands to everyone, saying, "Man, what can I say? I'm not stupid enough to challenge an opponent I can't beat."

"Wow, I thought you'd lost your mind, but it turns out you still have your rationality."

Others, however, acknowledged the significance of that statement.

Everyone at Shuchiin has long held a consensus: don't think that just because you're great in one area you can look down on the King of Shuchiin, because the King of Shuchiin will only be more great than you.

"Club President, is something wrong with that idiot?"

"He suddenly grew so much taller, it can't be that he's awakened, right? I don't think he has that potential."

"Sage, it seems he's not the only one with something unusual about him; I suspect others in the school might have the same problem."

As Hasegawa Izumi walked out of the gymnasium through the side door, the girls from the Far East Magic Society suddenly gathered around her.

For ordinary people, unusual things at school might be rationalized due to preconceived notions.

But for perceptive people, the changes would certainly be noticeable, let alone for these awakened superpowered Ability User.

"Although there are problems, they brought it on themselves... Human desires are always hard to satisfy, and in pursuit of what they want, they naturally can't resist temptation."

"However, what they perceive as an 'equivalent exchange' may not actually be an equivalent exchange. Let's see how much they suffer."

He was merely offering his assessment from an outsider's perspective before leaving.

The girls exchanged glances and then decided on their strategy.

Find out the reasons, take control of the situation, and intervene only when the time is right.

As people who have been deeply involved in the underworld, they can easily understand Hasegawa's thoughts.

Supernatural powers are not necessarily a good thing; they are more likely to be poison.

Only through firsthand experience can one truly understand this point.

In the next few days.

The legends surrounding the Laughingless Cat Statue have become increasingly fantastical, leading many to believe them and search for it.

Most people don't have that destiny, but a small number do find it and make their wishes.

People who have changed compared to before are returning to society.

Then, a week of extreme chaos ensued at Shuchiin.

A rumor also began to spread at this time.

Many of us are no longer who we truly are; we've been replaced by something unknown!

Many people were skeptical, but still marked their former friends.

Secretly, a massive 'Witch Hunt' is underway.

"Izumi, could that rumor be true? Has a monster infiltrated our ranks?"

When class ended, Eriri found an opportunity to speak with him alone.

Hasegawa Izumi glanced at the girl's eyes; they didn't seem like she was afraid, but rather excited.

"What, are you itching to do something?"

"There's one thing: I don't even know how far I can go, I'm a little unsure."

The ability test that day left Eriri with psychological trauma.

"What's happening now isn't what you think..."

He continued.

70

Chapter 70 The Frenzy of Shuchiin.

Over the past few days, the girls have investigated the cause and outcome of the incident and tried to confirm the existence of the 'Laughingless Cat Statue,' but each time the Statue was discovered in advance and escaped.

"So that's how it is... No wonder some people seemed to be acting strangely."

Eriri nodded thoughtfully.

So, does that mean it's actually possible to fulfill your wishes to some extent?

"Wishes don't always come true as expected, and they might come at an unknown cost... If Eriri, you're really that unhappy with your figure, I can actually help you in other ways."

Seeing the interest in her eyes, Hasegawa Izumi teased her a couple of times.

The boy's gaze swept over a certain barren area.

"Your method wouldn't be... using your hands, would it?! You've finally shown your true colors! You wolf!"

Eriri's face immediately turned red, and she covered her chest with both hands, grimacing as she spoke.

"Teacher Kashiwagi Eri, it's been so long since you've released a new work, and your thoughts are still as filthy as ever."

He responded with a sarcastic remark without batting an eye.

"There's no need to bring that up again! That was something I did in the past, it has nothing to do with who I am now!"

Eriri, embarrassed and annoyed, resorted to a similar, common expression used here.

"Really? I was actually quite looking forward to Teacher Kashiwagi Eri's new work."

"Real?"

"So what if it's true? Do you really want to draw it?"

"If you insist, I might be able to agree..."

"Then let's forget about it."

Seeing the mockery in the boy's eyes, the girl instantly realized she had been tricked again.

"Snort!"

She puffed out her cheeks, turned around, and walked away.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the school.

"Hayasaka, do you think the legend of the Laughing Cat is true?"