Innocent and Clueless

As per Yoshimura Kōzen's arrangements, Ken Kaneki became desk mates with Atsushi Murasakibara at "The King's Hometown." When Ken Kaneki took his seat, Atsushi Murasakibara was catching a few Z's in the last moments before class.

"Hello, classmate Atsushi Murasakibara. I'm Ken Kaneki. We met at the basketball gym for physical testing this noon," Ken Kaneki greeted Atsushi Murasakibara amicably.

"Mhm, hello," Atsushi Murasakibara mumbled groggily. In reality, Ken Kaneki suspected he was just being perfunctory to avoid being disturbed while sleeping.

Seeing Atsushi Murasakibara's chibi avatar appear on the System's relationship interface, yet the character bond level remaining completely stagnant, Ken Kaneki fell into thought. Soon, the school bell rang, interrupting Ken Kaneki's musings. He had no choice but to set the matter aside and focus on the class.

I wonder if any of you feel a sense of nostalgia for your school days as teenagers, yet if you were truly back in class, you'd be eagerly awaiting the bell to dismiss you. Ken Kaneki endured the class in such a mood, bored, until dismissal. During the long class period, he came up with a brilliant idea.

"Classmate Murasakibara, Classmate Murasakibara?" Ken Kaneki gently nudged Atsushi Murasakibara, who had slept through the entire class, and carefully woke him.

"Ugh," Atsushi Murasakibara glared irritably at Ken Kaneki, who had disturbed his sleep, and asked, "What do you want?"

"I just bought a bag of seaweed-flavored potato chips. Want some?" Ken Kaneki took out a bag of chips from his pocket, his expression resembling a creepy uncle luring a child. Yes, Ken Kaneki's plan was to cater to Murasakibara's preferences.

"Ah, thank you!" Atsushi Murasakibara was instantly awake. He snatched the bag of chips from Ken Kaneki's hand and began devouring them, mumbling, "Thanks, Ken-chan, you're a good guy!"

"You're calling me Ken-chan now?" Ken Kaneki thought wryly, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Congratulations to the host for interacting with an S-Class protagonist. Current character bond level: Acquaintance. Reward: One S-Class draw chance!" the System's prompt sounded at the opportune moment.

"Emmm... It seems classmate Murasakibara really loves potato chips," Ken Kaneki thought with a helpless chuckle. Then he considered, "But exchanging a bag of chips for an S-Class draw isn't a bad deal."

"Ah, I remember you now, Ken-chan. You were the one with me for physical testing at noon! I heard your bench press is even better than mine!" Atsushi Murasakibara mumbled indistinctly around a mouthful of chips.

"So didn't I tell you earlier? You're only remembering now?" Ken Kaneki looked at Atsushi Murasakibara, who was busy stuffing his face, and couldn't help but rub his temples. How could he continue to exploit him... no, how could he get along well with this airhead? It was giving him a headache!

As the class bell rang, the arduous time returned.

While Ken Kaneki was listlessly listening to the teacher lecture, he felt Atsushi Murasakibara nudge him with his elbow. Ken Kaneki turned his head and looked at Atsushi Murasakibara quizzically. He saw Atsushi Murasakibara quietly toss a piece of paper onto Ken Kaneki's desk. Ken Kaneki opened it and saw a question written in a questioning tone: "Ken-chan, do you want to read manga?" Ken Kaneki was puzzled and subtly asked without a trace, "We're sitting so close, why don't you just tell me directly?" Atsushi Murasakibara didn't reply and handed over another piece of paper. Ken Kaneki opened it; it read: "The teacher doesn't allow talking."

"What kind of logic is that, you jerk! If talking isn't allowed, then reading manga and passing notes is?" Ken Kaneki felt as if he had drunk a mouthful of vinegar, his expression resembling an old man looking at his phone on the subway. The urge to complain internally was almost unbearable. But for the sake of his... future three years of classmate camaraderie, Ken Kaneki could only imitate Atsushi Murasakibara, write a note, and pass it back: "Okay, classmate Murasakibara."

Thus, the two sitting in the corner lowered their heads, engrossed in the world of manga. When they looked up again, the classroom was deathly silent. The teacher, with a grim expression, stood before them.

"You two, I've been watching you for a while. Sneaking around, not paying attention, reading manga?" the teacher's tone was extremely unfriendly.

"Yeah, Ken-chan, how could you read manga?" Atsushi Murasakibara also pointedly accused Ken Kaneki with righteous indignation.

"Huh? Me?" Ken Kaneki's eyes widened. Fine, fine! I'm one with my bro, my bro uses his brain with me, then don't blame me! I'm done being human, Murasakibara!

Ken Kaneki, with a look of regret, pulled out the manga from under his textbook on the desk and handed it to the teacher with a pained expression: "I'm sorry, teacher. I shouldn't have read manga during class."

"Ah?" The airheaded Atsushi Murasakibara hadn't expected the plot to unfold this way at all. He looked at the manga book in Ken Kaneki's hand, his face full of heartache, wanting to take it but not daring to.

"I'll let it slide this time! If I catch you again, I'll confiscate your manga and have your parents come pick it up!" Seeing Ken Kaneki's good attitude in "confessing," the teacher didn't say anything further and turned back to prepare for the lesson. Just then, the dismissal bell rang.

"Ken-chan, you're so disloyal!" Atsushi Murasakibara yelled indignantly. "You call me disloyal? Are you loyal?" Ken Kaneki retorted, pointing a finger at Atsushi Murasakibara's nose without holding back. Perhaps Ken Kaneki himself didn't realize that, after living two lives, his intelligence had been brought down to the same level as Atsushi Murasakibara's extensive airheaded experience...

Amidst the atmosphere of them accusing each other of being inhuman, the afternoon classes finally ended. As Ken Kaneki was packing his bag, the window at the back of the classroom was knocked on. Looking up, he saw Daiki Aomine and Satsuki Momoi.

"Hurry, hurry, Ken Kaneki! Tonight is the first Basketball Club training camp. I heard they'll announce the results of the new player physical tests and lineup adjustments!" Daiki Aomine urged incessantly, trembling with excitement.

"Don't rush, Aomine. You should at least wait for me to finish packing," Ken Kaneki said as he methodically packed his books and stationery. He then looked at Atsushi Murasakibara, who had just returned from the restroom, and asked, "Murasakibara, want to come along?"

"Hey! You're the one from noon! The tall guy with purple hair!" Daiki Aomine exclaimed, pointing at Atsushi Murasakibara as if he had discovered a new continent. "Hello, I'm Daiki Aomine! I didn't expect you and Ken Kaneki to be in the same class, and desk mates at that!"

Atsushi Murasakibara looked conflicted, considering whether to accept Ken Kaneki's invitation to go together. He felt like Ken Kaneki had just played a trick on him, and going to training with him now felt like a loss of dignity.

"Well, I'll go with Aomine then. I was thinking of treating everyone to ramen tonight," Ken Kaneki said casually, ignoring Atsushi Murasakibara.

"Hey, Ken-chan, let's go! We're going to be late!" Hearing about food, Atsushi Murasakibara quickly packed his things like lightning and called out from the doorway. What? Dignity? Dignity was worth only a few bowls of ramen to Atsushi Murasakibara...

"That big guy just now seemed faster than me!" Daiki Aomine said, somewhat surprised.

"What are you talking about? He's just a gluttonous airhead," Ken Kaneki muttered, covering his forehead, reluctant to admit he was this guy's desk mate.