Bus Incident (5)

This time, Toudou Shizuka was no longer a clumsy listener. He began to express his own views at appropriate moments (based on the limited knowledge instilled by the system), skillfully asking questions to guide the other person deeper, and naturally picking up the thread when the other paused. Though far from effortless, the rhythm of the entire conversation began to flow smoothly.

[Comprehension: Social Affinity (Broad) A-Rank: 15.71%... 32.86%... 67.23%... 99.99%!]

When comprehension finally reached the critical point, a vast torrent of information surged into his mind once more! Countless fragments of knowledge about micro-expression reading, tone control, topic selection, icebreaker techniques, and emotional resonance instantly fused with the insights he had gained from countless setbacks and attempts in that noisy banquet hall! A strange warm current brushed through his nerves, as if installing a new driver for his social instincts.

[Congratulations, Host! Successfully mastered skill: Social Affinity (Broad)! Rank: A-Rank!]

[Obtained Simulation Points: 50 Points!]

[Current Simulation Points: 150 Points!]

Consciousness returned to reality. The bus was passing through a tree-lined avenue, dappled light and shadow dancing inside the cabin. Toudou Shizuka remained quietly seated in the corner, as if he had only briefly spaced out. He lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes sweeping over Kushida Kikyo up ahead, who was chatting easily with a classmate beside her, her smile sweet.

This time, he saw more than just her surface. He could perceive more clearly the subtle muscle control behind her smile, the precise angle of her forward lean when listening, the tonal shifts in her responses that accurately touched the other's emotional chords. A-rank affinity was like a meticulously deconstructed blueprint laid out before him.

He withdrew his gaze, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in the faintest motion, gone in an instant. No one knew that in that brief moment just now, this quiet youth had, in the virtual clamor, clumsily practiced thousands of times how to converse with others.

"Wow, it's amazing!"

"This is Kōdo Ikusei High School? It feels like a castle!"

"Look, look, the class assignment notice is over there!"

The massive white teaching building stood before them like a solemn fortress, sunlight reflecting dazzlingly off the enormous glass curtain wall. Neatly trimmed lawns and carefully arranged ornamental trees all showcased the school's immense financial strength. The school entrance was already buzzing with noise. New students in brand-new uniforms, their faces a mix of excitement, curiosity, and nervousness, converged into a stream flowing toward the huge electronic notice board in front of the teaching building.

Toudou Shizuka carried his single-shoulder bag and moved slowly with the crowd. He deliberately kept a low profile, his gaze calm as he swept his surroundings. In his field of vision, light blue system light spots flickered faintly, the [Target Scan and Analysis Zone] silently covering the crowd like an invisible radar.

[Scan Target: Horikita Suzune]

Learning Ability (Theoretical Absorption and Logical Deduction): A-Rank (Top Tier) Self-Discipline and Focus: A-Rank (Highly Self-Regulated) Athletic Ability (Basic Physical Fitness): C-Rank (Adequate) Social Skills (Active): D-Rank (Severely Lacking) Self-Perception (Stubborn): B-Rank (Highly Confident, Not Easily Accepting Others' Opinions) ...

[Scan Target: Ike Kanji]

Basic Academics (Theory): C-Rank (Average) Video Games (Specific Genres): B-Rank (Proficient) Information Gathering (Gossip): C-Rank (Has Channels) Herd Mentality: C-Rank ...

[Scan Target: Yamauchi Haruki]

Fashion Trends (Pursuit): C-Rank (High Attention) Flirting Techniques (Beginner): D-Rank (Low Success Rate) Self-Perception (Overinflated): B-Rank (Does Not Match Actual Ability) ...

One by one, faces both familiar and unfamiliar, skills both dazzling and mediocre, scrolled through Toudou Shizuka's consciousness like a data stream. He was like an observer standing apart, calmly evaluating these future "classmates" and potential "skill libraries."

Finally, he squeezed his way to the huge electronic notice board. On the massive screen, the names of new students were clearly listed by class.

Class A: Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi Kouhei, Kamuro Masumi... Class B: Ichinose Honami, Kanzaki Ryuji, Shiranami Chihiro... --Toudou Shizuka--... Amakura Asako... Class C: Ryuuen Kaku, Ibuki Mio, Albert... Class D: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, Kushida Kikyo, Hirata Yousuke, Karuizawa Kei...

His eyes found his name on the Class B list, and Toudou Shizuka felt no ripple in his heart.

Class B, the neutral zone, the "united and friendly" collective under Ichinose Honami's leadership. This position fit his "quiet and transparent" positioning perfectly, convenient for observing and acting in the shadows.

His gaze quickly swept over the Class D list, especially that name—Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Sure enough, just like in the original work, deliberately assigned to the lowest tier.

"Hey! Move it! Don't block the way!" A rough voice accompanied a strong force slamming into him from the side.

Toudou Shizuka's body reacted almost instinctively! The combat instincts from his S-Rank Fighting Style activated instantly, his lower body muscles making micro-adjustments, his center of gravity as stable as a boulder. The impact hit him, but he didn't budge, like a reef embedded in the ground.

"Ugh!" The tall figure who had crashed into him instead stumbled, nearly falling. It was Sudo Ken.

Rubbing his sore shoulder, he glared at Toudou Shizuka with an unhappy face, muttering under his breath, "What's your deal, standing there like a post..."

Toudou Shizuka looked at him calmly, his face expressionless, his eyes gentle with a hint of puzzled offense, perfectly playing the role of an innocent student who had been bumped into. He said nothing, only slightly sidestepping to make some room.

[Scan Target: Sudo Ken (Refresh)]

Basketball (High School Top Tier): A-Rank (Core Skill) Burst Strength: B-Rank

Adversarial (Physical Contact): B-Rank

Irritable and Impulsive: D-Rank (Negative Trait, Significantly Enhanced)

Observation (On the Court): C-Rank

Sudo Ken's Irritable Impulsiveness had indeed spiked. Toudou Shizuka understood this in his heart and paid him no further mind, turning his gaze back to the notice board.

"Tch, Class B..." Sudo Ken spotted the class label next to Toudou Shizuka's name and curled his lip, as if deigning to argue with someone from a "mediocre" class was beneath him. He pushed through the crowd grumpily to find Class D's spot.

"Classmate, are you alright?" A gentle voice sounded beside him. Toudou Shizuka turned to see a handsome face wearing a concerned smile—it was Hirata Yousuke. He was also looking at the notice board and had clearly witnessed the brief friction.

[Scan Target: Hirata Yousuke]

Team Coordination and Organization: B-rank

Emotional Soothing and Mediation: B-rank (Active)

Basic Leadership: C-rank

Affability (Proactive Care): B-rank

"I'm fine, thank you." Toudou Shizuka gave a slightly reserved but polite smile and shook his head. He noticed Hirata Yousuke's gaze also swept over Class D's roster on the notice board, and his eyebrows furrowed in a Barely Perceptible twitch, as if the class assignment struck him as somewhat troublesome. But it was quickly masked by his warm smile.