Well-intentioned Kindness That Failed to Protect

The anonymous parcel was like a stone dropped into a still pond, stirring unexpected ripples in the suppressed despair of Class D... (Epilogue)

When Sakura Airi found the parcel in front of her locker, immense confusion replaced her initial panic. She carefully opened it and saw familiar art supplies, practical energy bars, a Free Resource Guide, and that 5000-point anonymous card. Tears instantly welled up behind her large glasses.

It wasn't charity, it was precisely the help she needed, silently protecting her last vestiges of dignity and her hobby. She clutched the art supplies tightly, like guarding a lost treasure found again. Immense gratitude and an ineffable sense of security bloomed in her heart. She might have known who it was, but this kindness brought a sliver of warmth into the coldness of Class D.

[Sakura Airi Affection +3 (Gained immense relief and deeper trust from precise, pressure-free aid). Current: 58 (Highly Grateful and Trusting) -> Target 60 (High Trust).]

However, this warmth was soon swallowed by the chilling vortex brewing within Class D.

The pressure of zero points was like a tightening noose. Buying textbooks, paying for basic cafeteria meals, maintaining the minimum expenses for club activities... every expenditure became a heavy burden. (Class D survived on the cafeteria's free vegetable salad until the special exam, which was great.)

In their desperation, the undercurrent of private lending didn't subside; instead, it intensified. Initially, it was just small "favor exchanges" (borrowing a thousand, returning a thousand and a few dozen), but as time passed, some students with a little extra cash (perhaps saved from the beginning of enrollment, or like Sakura, receiving unknown aid) or those with active minds began to be targeted by more people.

Kushida Kikyo, the "angel" of Class D with A-rank Social Affinity, became the center of the vortex.

"Kikyo-chan! Please! Help me!" During break, a girl (Passerby Wu) grabbed Kushida's arm with a tearful voice. "I'm really out of options! I have to buy new sports shoes for club activities, or I'll be kicked out! I... I just need to borrow 3000 points! I'll pay you back 3200 as soon as I get my points next month! No, 3300 is fine too!"

"Kushida-san, could you perhaps... ask Hirata-kun from Class B? He's so kind, maybe..." Another boy (Passerby Ji) also chimed in, lowering his voice to plead.

Kushida Kikyo maintained her sweet and warm smile, patiently comforting them. "Don't worry, don't worry, it's tough for everyone. I'll figure something out, don't fret."

[Expression Management and Emotional Camouflage A-rank] allowed her to perfectly conceal her inner fatigue and a trace of imperceptible annoyance.

She moved among the students seeking help like a firefighter, using her A-rank communication skills to soothe their emotions, promising to "try her best to ask around," but never easily committing to specific amounts or people. She knew how deep this water ran; once she opened the floodgates, the subsequent trouble would be endless.

She needed to maintain her persona, but what she wanted least was to draw trouble to herself.

[Scanning Target: Kushida Kikyo (Status Refresh)]

Social Affinity (Extensive): A-rank (Active, Overload)

Expression Management and Emotional Camouflage: A-rank (Active, Peak)

Topic Guidance and Listening Skills: A-rank (Active, Used to diffuse pressure)

Emotional State: Highly Fatigued / Stress Accumulation (Hidden / Crawling in darkness, terrifyingly writhing)

[Affection: 15 (Neutral) -> 14 (Neutral)] - Depleted due to frequent requests. (Finds everyone annoying.)

Just as Kushida was struggling to cope, a discordant note sounded from a corner of Class D.

"Hey! Look at Sakura!"

Yamauchi Haruki's somewhat frivolous and loud voice rang out from the back of the classroom.

He pointed at the new, clearly expensive art supplies on Sakura Airi's desk, his face a mask of exaggerated surprise and a hint of malice.

"Wow! These are professional-grade paints from the Shou Heizhi brand! A set like this must cost at least 2500 Private Points! And new drawing paper too! Sakura, didn't you say you had no points? Hiding your wealth, aren't we!"

Swish! All eyes instantly focused on Sakura Airi, who was shrinking in the corner. She was carefully putting the new paints into her locker when Yamauchi's words struck her like thunder! Immense panic seized her!

She curled up like a startled hedgehog, her hands clutching the art supplies trembling violently. Behind her large glasses, her eyes were filled with terror and helplessness.

"I... I don't... This isn't..." She tried to explain, but her A-rank Social Phobia erupted under the intense scrutiny of so many eyes! Her throat felt blocked, her words jumbled, her voice so faint it was barely audible. "It... someone... put... it in front of the locker... I don't know..." The more flustered she became, the paler her explanation sounded.

"Put in front of the locker? Who would be so kind as to give you such expensive paints?" Yamauchi Haruki sneered, crossing his arms, his tone clearly inflammatory. "Could it be... you found some 'special channel'? Like... borrowing points? Or... made some kind of deal?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "deal," his gaze drifting ambiguously between Sakura and the doorway, full of insinuation.

"Yamauchi! What are you talking about!"

Karuizawa Kei frowned and rebuked him, but her own gaze couldn't help but sweep over Sakura's new art supplies and her panicked face, tinged with suspicion.

The other students' gazes also became complex—some envious, some jealous, but more than anything, in their desperate situation, there was a greed for what they saw as "hope" and a desire to uncover the truth.

"I didn't! I really didn't!" Sakura Airi was on the verge of tears, immense humiliation and fear making her tremble. She could only shake her head desperately, tears welling in her eyes, unable to utter a single complete sentence. Her social phobia rendered her completely incapable of defending herself under the barrage, like a lamb to the slaughter.

The surrounding gazes felt like needles, her cheeks burning as if on fire.

Thank you, Toudou... but I'm so scared, I can't even squeeze out a complete thank you, I can only repeat it in my heart.

[Target: Sakura Airi (Status Refresh)]

Severe Social Phobia: A-rank (Peak Activation, Complete Loss of Control)

Self-Perception (Extreme Inferiority Complex): A-rank (Peak Activation)

[Emotions: Extreme Panic / Humiliation / Despair]

[Affection: 58 (Highly Grateful and Trusting) -> 55 (Trust Wavering)] - In immense pain due to public humiliation and attack, her fear of the environment temporarily overrides her gratitude towards Toudou, the benefactor.

The atmosphere in the classroom became strange and tense. Kushida Kikyo was also drawn by the commotion. Seeing Sakura's predicament and Yamauchi fanning the flames, she frowned slightly.

Just as she was about to step forward to defuse the situation, a voice, calm to the point of being almost unruffled, sounded from the classroom doorway.