The Anonymous Parcel was like a stone tossed into a stagnant pond, stirring unexpected ripples in Class D's crushing despair... (To be continued)
When Sakura Airi found the parcel in front of her locker, her initial panic gave way to utter confusion. She carefully opened it and saw a familiar brand of art supplies, practical energy bars, a Free Resource Guide, and an Anonymous Card worth 5,000 points. Tears instantly welled behind her huge glasses.
It wasn't charity. It was exactly the help she needed when she needed it most, silently protecting her last shred of dignity and her beloved hobby. She clutched the art supplies tightly, as if guarding a treasure she'd thought lost forever. Gratitude and an indescribable sense of security spread through her heart. She might have known who it was from, but this kindness made her feel a little warmth in the frigid Class D.
[Sakura Airi Affinity +3 (Gained enormous relief and deeper trust from precise, pressure-free assistance). Current: 58 (Deep gratitude and trust) → Target: 60 (Deep trust).]
However, that warmth was soon swallowed by the cold whirlpool forming within Class D.
The pressure of having Zero Points was like a noose that kept tightening. Buying textbooks, paying for basic meals in the cafeteria, covering the bare minimum expenses for club activities... Every cost became a heavy burden. (In the original, Class D survived on free Vegetable Salad from the cafeteria all the way until the Special Exam. That's pretty great.)
In their desperation, the undercurrent of private loans didn't die down; it only grew stronger. At first, they were just small "favors" to tide someone over (borrow a thousand, pay back a thousand and a few dozen). But as time went on, students with a little extra money on hand—perhaps saved from the start of term or received through mysterious aid, like Sakura—or those who were good at spotting an opportunity, began attracting more and more attention.
Kushida Kikyo, Class D's "angel" with her A-rank Social Affinity, became the center of the whirlpool.
"Kushida! Please, you have to help me!" During break, a girl (Passerby Wu) grabbed Kushida's arm, her voice breaking into sobs. "I really have no other choice! I have to buy new Sports Shoes for club activities, or they'll kick me out!
"I... I only need to borrow 3,000 points! I'll pay you back 3,200 as soon as we get our points next month! No, I can pay back 3,300!"
"Kushida, could you maybe... ask Hirata from Class B for me? He's such a nice guy, maybe he..." Another boy (Passerby Ji) came over too, lowering his voice as he made his request.
Kushida Kikyo kept her sweet, warm smile as she patiently soothed them. "Don't worry, don't worry. Things are tough for everyone. I'll see what I can do, so please don't worry."
[Expression Control and Emotional Masking: Rank A] allowed her to perfectly conceal her inner exhaustion and a faint trace of irritation.
She moved among her classmates' pleas for help like a firefighter rushing from one blaze to another. With A-rank conversational skills, she calmed them down and promised to "do her best to ask around," but never committed to a specific amount or person. She knew how deep this pool was. Once she gave in, the trouble that followed would never end.
She had to maintain her image, but the last thing she wanted was to draw trouble onto herself.
[Scanning target: Kushida Kikyo (status refreshed)]
Social Affinity (Broad): Rank A (active, operating beyond capacity)
Expression Control and Emotional Masking: Rank A (active, at peak)
Topic Guidance and Listening Skills: Rank A (active, used to ease pressure)
Emotional State: extreme fatigue / accumulated stress (hidden / creeping in darkness, writhing in horror)
[Affinity: 15 (Neutral) → 14 (Neutral)] – Drained from being asked for things too often. (Found everyone annoying.)
Just as Kushida was struggling to deal with the constant demands, a discordant note sounded from a corner of Class D.
"Hey! Look at Sakura!"
Yamauchi Haruki's voice rang out from the back of the classroom, flippant and loud.
He pointed at the brand-new, obviously expensive paints on Sakura Airi's desk, his face wearing an exaggerated look of surprise and a hint of ill intent.
"Whoa! Those are professional-grade paints from Xiao Hei Zi!
"A set must cost at least 2,500 Private Points, right? And there's new Drawing Paper!
"Sakura, didn't you say you were out of points? You've been hiding this from us!"
Whoosh! Everyone's attention instantly focused on Sakura Airi, huddled in the corner. She was carefully putting her new paints into her locker when Yamauchi's words exploded in her ears like a thunderclap! Panic seized her in an instant!
Like a startled hedgehog, she curled up sharply. Her hands trembled violently around the art supplies, and terror and helplessness filled her eyes behind her huge Black-rimmed Glasses.
"I... I didn't... These aren't..." She tried to explain, but her A-rank Social Phobia erupted under the weight of everyone's attention! Her throat felt blocked. She stammered, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible. "S-someone... put them... in front of my locker... I don't know..." The more flustered she became, the more feeble her explanation sounded.
"In front of your locker? Who'd be nice enough to give you paints this expensive?" Yamauchi Haruki scoffed, folding his arms. His tone was clearly meant to stir things up.
"Could it be... you found some 'special channel' for getting points? Maybe... borrowed some? Or... made some kind of deal?"
He deliberately stressed the word "deal," his eyes darting between Sakura and the doorway in a suggestive way.
"Yamauchi! What are you talking about?"
Karuizawa Kei frowned and scolded him, but her gaze, too, kept shifting between Sakura's new art supplies and her panicked face, tinged with suspicion.
The other students' expressions grew complicated too—some were envious, some jealous, but most were consumed by the greed and curiosity of people at the end of their rope who'd caught sight of something called "hope."
"I didn't! I really didn't!" Sakura Airi was on the verge of tears. Overwhelmed by humiliation and fear, she trembled all over and could only shake her head desperately. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she couldn't manage to get out a single complete sentence.
Her social phobia left her utterly unable to defend herself under attack, like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
The eyes around her felt like needles, and her cheeks burned as if they were about to catch fire.
Thank you, Toudou... But I'm so scared. I can't even force out a complete "thank you"; I can only repeat it over and over in my heart.
[Target: Sakura Airi (status refreshed)]
Social Anxiety (Severe): Rank A (peak activation, completely out of control)
Self-Perception (Extreme Inferiority): Rank A (peak activation)
[Emotions: extreme panic / humiliation / despair]
[Affinity: 58 (Deep gratitude and trust) → 55 (Trust shaken)] – Being publicly humiliated and attacked plunged her into immense anguish; her fear of her surroundings temporarily overwhelmed her gratitude toward Todo, the person who had helped her.
The atmosphere in the classroom turned strange and tense. Kushida Kikyo was drawn by the commotion too. Seeing Sakura's predicament and Yamauchi fanning the flames, she furrowed her brow.
She was about to step in and help when a calm, almost emotionless voice sounded from the classroom doorway.
Before you continue