Increasing Unease

Seeing this, Ge Cheng turned off the computer projection, and the atmosphere in Class A grew a little subdued.

"What kind of nonsensical rules are these?"

Bai Yuze looked toward the person complaining and recognized him at a glance.

Totsuka Yahiko, Class A student Katsuragi Kohei's lackey.

Most of the students in the class looked confused, while a few of them were trembling.

Just then, Bai Yuze's desk mate, Sakayanagi Arisu, turned around and smiled at him.

"Classmate Bai, do you happen to know something?"

"Huh? What?"

Bai Yuze tried to play dumb and brush her off again, but his question to Mashima just now had clearly given him away.

As a result, Bai Yuze was treated to an eye roll from Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Classmate Bai, shouldn't classmates help and share with one another?"

Sakayanagi Arisu kept smiling, looking as if she already had Bai Yuze cornered.

Bai Yuze was about to refuse, but then he suddenly recalled the rules that had been projected on the computer.

[ No matter where you are, always be willing to help others and offer assistance to the weak. ]

"Oh, no! She set me up!"

Bai Yuze had reason to suspect Sakayanagi Arisu had learned the school's secrets through her father's influence. After all, she looked far too composed for it to be an act.

The problem was that the word "help" was too broad. Answering someone's question counted as helping, too.

Bai Yuze was a little unwilling to give in and tried to find a loophole.

"Ahem. Classmate Sakayanagi is so smart that you can't exactly be considered weak, can you?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's smile grew increasingly mysterious.

"Hehe. Classmate Bai, I have a new question. How did you know my surname?"

"Oh, no!"

Bai Yuze's heart jolted. He'd wanted to bluff his way out of it, but accidentally let Sakayanagi Arisu's surname slip!

From Sakayanagi Arisu's point of view, she hadn't introduced herself at all. So how had Bai Yuze known her surname?

"Of course I asked Teacher Mashima!"

"Oh? Why ask the teacher privately?"

"Ahem. Because I like petite girls!"

Bai Yuze started making things up. Fortunately, Mashima had just said, "I think your name is Bai Yuze," though Bai Yuze had no idea why Mashima recognized him. There was no time to think about it now.

Sure enough, the excuse worked wonders. Sakayanagi Arisu's smile stiffened, and her eyes regarded him like a piece of trash. She even leaned back a little...

"Classmate Bai is such a jokester. Now, will you tell weak little me about that matter?"

Sakayanagi Arisu adjusted her smile and returned to her earlier question. As she finished speaking, she pointed at the cane in her hand.

"That doesn't count as helping me!"

Bai Yuze complained to himself.

I knew this flat-chested little girl was acting like she had me cornered. So "the weak" includes people with physical disabilities, too!

Sakayanagi Arisu had laid a perfect trap for Bai Yuze. He could either tell her or break the rules, and either way, she stood to gain valuable information.

"You win. I'll tell you!"

Bai Yuze finally gave in. The rules were simply too bizarre, and after what had happened on the bus, he didn't want to risk testing them himself.

"That was a very sensible decision~"

Bai Yuze crooked a finger, signaling for Sakayanagi Arisu to lean closer. Wanting to hear the information—and to keep anyone else from overhearing—Sakayanagi Arisu leaned in as well.

The rest of Class A were busy discussing things, and no one noticed them.

Bai Yuze told Sakayanagi Arisu what had happened on the bus. Of course, he believed in helping only within one's means, so he didn't tell her everything. He kept the crimson orb a secret.

After hearing what had happened, Sakayanagi Arisu fell into thought, her brows furrowing now and then.

"Um... Didn't Chairman Sakayanagi tell you about this?"

Sakayanagi Arisu and Sakayanagi Narimori had the same hair color and surname. Anyone could guess they were related.

"He did... But what I went through wasn't the same as what happened to you..."

Sakayanagi Arisu's brow furrowed deeply. Her little face wore such a serious expression that it was hard not to find it amusing.

"Then would you be so kind as to tell me?"

"Sure, but there are too many people here. Let's add each other as friends."

They accepted each other's friend requests, and then Sakayanagi Arisu started teasing him again.

"Classmate Bai~ You took my first time~ You have to take responsibility~"

Sakayanagi Arisu's outrageous remark made Bai Yuze's mouth twitch. Why was she acting like such a bratty little girl?

"Sure. I'll reply to every message carefully!"

Bai Yuze put on a serious expression. Seeing that he hadn't fallen for it, Sakayanagi Arisu immediately lost interest and turned around.

Having seen all four school bullies, Bai Yuze felt like tossing out a filthy joke, but considering who her father was, he forced himself to keep it to himself.

"Everyone, quiet down for a moment."

As the discussion in the classroom grew louder, Katsuragi Kohei stepped in to restore order.

"Teacher Mashima said we could use our points to exchange for information. Since we haven't reached any conclusions by discussing it, we should ask the upperclassmen for information."

"Good! I agree with Classmate Katsuragi!"

Totsuka Yahiko was the first to applaud. Once someone started clapping, the others joined in almost involuntarily.

"Looks like Katsuragi is about to take control of the class."

Bai Yuze seemed to be talking to himself, but he was really asking Sakayanagi Arisu a question.

The other side was already recruiting supporters. Weren't you going to build your own walls?

"Indeed~ Classmate Katsuragi has a real talent for this~"

Sakayanagi Arisu still wore her smiling expression, as if she didn't care about the matter at all.

"Are you really willing to let someone else tell you what to do?"

Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly turned around, reached out, and held Bai Yuze's face in her hands as she examined it closely.

"Classmate Bai~ Why do I get the feeling you know me awfully well?"

Sakayanagi Arisu startled Bai Yuze. He glanced around and saw that everyone else was focused on Katsuragi. Only then did he relax.

Bai Yuze pushed Sakayanagi Arisu's hands away and rubbed his face in exaggerated distaste, though in truth he was showing off how cool he was!

"I just think someone as high and mighty as you wouldn't lower yourself to obey someone else."

"Hehehe~ You really know how to read people, Classmate Bai. But that's what makes it interesting, isn't it?"

"So... Why did I have to run my mouth?"

Bai Yuze was on the verge of tears. He wanted to slap himself twice.

Earlier, in the classroom, Katsuragi Kohei had called on his classmates to go out and exchange points for information, but things hadn't gone smoothly.

The class had split into three factions. One belonged to the Katsuragi Faction, another to the Sakayanagi Faction. Bai Yuze was also puzzled about when Sakayanagi Arisu had started her own faction.

Of course, there was also a factionless group like Bai Yuze, but the Sakayanagi and Katsuragi Factions had already started treating these unaffiliated students as future members of their respective factions.

During all this, Bai Yuze had made a polite offer.

"I'm heading to the shopping mall. Do you... Is there anything you want me to pick up for you?"

Originally, Bai Yuze had meant to ask Sakayanagi Arisu if she wanted to go to the mall with him, but when he thought of her physical condition, he immediately changed his wording.

And... that was how things had ended up...

Bai Yuze looked at the densely packed list, nearly in tears.

Before long, Bai Yuze arrived at Keyaki Mall. There was a sheet of white paper by the main entrance, and to save time, he simply took out his phone and snapped a picture of it.

Bai Yuze entered the mall, browsing the photo as he walked.

[Welcome to Keyaki Mall. We hope you enjoy your shopping experience here.]

[For your own peace of mind and shopping experience, please be sure to follow these rules.]

[1. Keyaki Mall opens at seven in the morning and closes at eleven thirty at night.]

[2. Please note that the opening time may occasionally be slightly delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience.] In a relatively neat handwriting (The closing time is always accurate.)

[3. Please be friendly when speaking with the shop assistants. They've been working all day and may suffer from sudden mental impulses or illnesses.]

[4. Every store has an alarm button. If a shop assistant suffers a sudden illness and becomes aggressive, press the alarm button immediately and leave the store.]

[5. Every store has surveillance cameras. Although some of the equipment is a little old, shoplifting will not be tolerated! Remember, your life is precious.]

[6. If a shop assistant catches someone stealing merchandise, that person has two choices: pay ten times the amount in compensation, or work part-time as a shop assistant until they have earned the original price of the stolen item.] In a meticulous, dignified handwriting (The part-time shift must last at least one day. Serious cases will be assigned to the overnight shift.)

[7. The mall closes after eleven thirty. Please don't play pranks by hiding inside the mall instead of leaving. Violators will be responsible for the consequences.]

What Bai Yuze found strange was that the paper still had plenty of room below, but there wasn't another word on it.

"Maybe that's all there is."

Bai Yuze said to himself, but the unease in his heart was growing increasingly intense...