Life Doesn't Have a Progress Bar

"Bullying classmates, spreading rumors, disrupting class order. The demerit list for Class D seems to have a few more entries."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka appeared at the doorway at some point, a book open in his hand. His gaze calmly swept over Yamauchi Haruki and the crowd surrounding Sakura, as if stating an objective fact.

"Teacher Chabashira would be delighted to see this list grow longer, anyway... our Private Points are already zero." His tone was flat, yet it felt like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads.

Yamauchi Haruki's arrogant demeanor instantly faltered. Mentioning "demerits" and "Teacher Chabashira," especially recalling the zero Private Points on his cold Personal Device, sent a chill crawling up his spine.

The other students who were jeering also felt as if their throats were being choked. They sheepishly averted their gazes, no longer daring to stare at Sakura.

After speaking, Ayanokouji acted as if he were merely passing by and making a comment. He then returned to his seat and opened his book. His intervention was silent, yet it precisely extinguished the nascent flame of chaos.

Kushida Kikyo seized the opportunity and immediately went to Sakura's side, her A-rank Affinity allowing her to soothe her gently, "Sakura-san, don't be scared. Yamauchi-kun was just joking. These paints are beautiful; go ahead and create something with them." She skillfully framed it as a "joke," defusing the direct conflict and simultaneously shifting the topic to creation, diverting attention.

Sakura Airi was still trembling, tears welling behind her large glasses. However, the direct pressure from Yamauchi had temporarily eased. She clutched her art supplies tightly, as if holding onto a last lifeline.

By the library window, Toudou Shizuka withdrew his gaze from Class D's direction. A book lay open before him, but his mind was fully occupied with the stream of information on his Personal Device's Twitter feed.

He "happened" to be following the anonymous social media accounts of several active Class D students. Yamauchi Haruki's vague post bragging about "seeing through someone's facade" (which was quickly deleted), along with fragmented information from encrypted group chats discussing "Sakura's mysterious paint source," were rapidly pieced together under the processing of [Information Synthesis B-Rank] and [Rational Analysis B-rank], reconstructing the outline of the commotion in the Class D classroom.

Yamauchi Haruki, the instigator fanning the flames, and the socially anxious Sakura, the desperate and helpless victim... Ayanokouji's precise reminder and warning had silenced the others who were itching to join in...

Toudou Shizuka's gaze instantly turned cold.

Yamauchi Haruki... what a clown!

He had almost ruined the connection he had painstakingly maintained with Sakura. (Do you know what it feels like to be on the verge of max level in a game, only to be suddenly defeated, lose your level, and have to grind all over again?)

He had also almost pushed Sakura into a deeper abyss. Truly an irredeemable piece of trash...

Perhaps my help to Sakura has been too superficial; I haven't truly protected her. Maybe I should be more resolute, teach her the courage to fight back. Just giving warmth isn't enough; she needs to learn to resist. Instead of restraining her, I should let her grow her own wings.

Fledglings will eventually soar, and people will eventually grow.

Just as he was contemplating how to help Sakura grow, the system notification sounded...

[Simulation Points +15 (Successfully monitored and analyzed target class dynamics, resolving a potential danger). Current: 15 Points.]

[Sakura Airi Affection: 55 (Trust shaken) - Crisis temporarily resolved, but trauma remains.]

[Ayanokouji Kiyotaka Affection: 0 (No attention) → 1 (Faint attention/evaluation) - System notification: Relevance slightly increased due to intervention in the Sakura Incident. Threat Assessment: Faint (Target individual is not interested in this).]

Ayanokouji's intervention was unexpected by Toudou Shizuka, yet entirely within reason. He was like a spider perched at the center of Class D's web, its every tremor escaping his perception.

Did he help Sakura merely to maintain the class's minimal stability (avoiding chaotic demerits)?

Or was it because Sakura herself held observational value? Or perhaps... another observation of him, the "connected person"?

Regardless, Ayanokouji's personal information became clearer. Toudou Shizuka also felt a strong sense of urgency within himself. He needed more power, needed to unlock key skills faster!

His gaze locked onto Kushida Kikyo's skill tree on the system interface—that [Expression Management and Emotional Camouflage: A-rank]! If he could master this divine skill, combined with his existing Affinity, his "Toudou Shizuka" persona would be flawless, allowing him to infiltrate any social environment and gather intelligence with ease! Moreover, unlocking an A-rank skill would grant 50 Simulation Points!

[Unlock requires Affection ≥ 60 (Trust)!] Currently, Kushida's Affection is only 14 (Neutral), even slightly decreasing due to frequent requests.

How to quickly and safely increase Kushida's Affection?

Directly approaching her carries too much risk and could easily arouse the vigilance of this "Social Monster." Perhaps... he could start by addressing her current biggest pain point?

Toudou Shizuka engaged [Thought Acceleration] at full power, combining it with a scan and analysis of Kushida's state (high fatigue/accumulated stress/crawling darkness):

Pain Point: Being treated as a "money lending hub" by Class D students, bearing immense social pressure and potential risks, depleting personal credit, and being unable to refuse (to maintain her persona).

Need: To escape this passive situation without damaging her "Helpful" image.

Entry Point: Provide a "solution" that can both extricate her from the situation and maintain her image, possibly even increasing her prestige in Class D.

A plan rapidly formed in Toudou Shizuka's mind, like intricate gears beginning to mesh.

He needed some time and a suitable opportunity. For someone like Kushida, initial Affection might be easy to gain, as her current goal is to make friends. However, truly entering her heart would be very difficult.

He opened the communication interface with Sakura Airi. Without asking about the recent conflict, he simply sent a photograph—outside the library window, the rain had stopped, and a faint rainbow arched over the glistening campus. He accompanied it with a short message: "After the rain."

A few minutes later, Sakura's reply arrived. A photograph—on her drawing board, a few strokes of wet green, carrying the fresh scent of post-rain air, were blooming. There were no words, but the vitality within that green was the best response.

[Sakura Airi Affection +1 (Gained solace through understanding and resonance). Current: 56 (High gratitude and trust) → Target 60 (High trust).]

Toudou Shizuka looked at the green hue, then at the dazzling yet unattainable A-rank skill icon of Kushida Kikyo in his system.

In the tranquility of the library, silent smoke had already begun to fill the air. He needed to build a stronger mental defense for Sakura, and he needed to become stronger himself to open Kushida's tightly shut door.

His current System Points (15 points) were meager, but wisdom and strategy were also his sharpest weapons at this moment.

The next step was to weave a net that could capture both "trust" and "skills."

Ayanokouji's gaze, like the Sword Hanging Overhead, urged him to be faster, more steady. The determination to become stronger never wavered, solely for the sake of becoming a better self in the future.

(There are no levels in life. If there were a progress bar, perhaps someone with OCD like me would be even better than I am now...)

(Can everyone leave comments?)