"Good news! Good news!"
"What good news?"
"We have PE this afternoon!"
"What's so special about PE?"
"We're having PE at the swimming pool!"
"Nani? Is that for real?"
"Absolutely! Our homeroom teacher said so!"
Everyone was instantly beside themselves with excitement. The boys especially looked like they were about to write "I'm a pervert" right on their faces!
Zhuge Linghao could hardly contain his excitement either. He was the first to rush out of the classroom. By the time the other boys reached the changing room, he was already wearing a flashy pink pair of swim trunks.
It was free time now, and the class's little groups had naturally formed.
"That one's a D cup, and that one's an A. I don't think that's quite enough."
"Take a closer look—holy crap, is that an E or an F? What is that, a mountain of flesh? I can't tell with her clothes on!"
"Impressive, impressive! As far as the eye can see, it's B's and C's. What a feast for the eyes!"
Zhuge Linghao's face was flushed pink. He pointed at the youthful beauties in the pool while he and Ayanokoji gleefully discussed the female anatomy.
"Ah, paradise! My eyes are dazzled by all this beauty. It's simply too beautiful!"
"What's beautiful?" Horikita Suzune's chilling, icy voice pierced his eardrums.
"Of course, the o... oranges!"
"Holy crap, Suzune-chan, when did you get here? You scared me to death!"
"Perfect timing! I'm practicing my English! ABCDEFG, do you think I look like a little idiot?"
Zhuge Linghao nervously lowered his head, doing his best to ignore Horikita Suzune's increasingly icy stare.
After a long while, Horikita Suzune spoke. "They're awfully carefree, considering they just got thoroughly chewed out by our homeroom teacher and then completely bombed the quiz."
"No wonder they're the most useless defective products. They don't understand the S System at all!"
Ayanokoji chimed in, "Maybe they're just letting off steam?"
Zhuge Linghao had a sudden idea. "Suzune, you want to help the class earn Class Points, don't you?"
Horikita Suzune said, "You've actually guessed right for once. I do have that in mind."
Ayanokoji's expression remained blank. "If we all change our attitudes toward studying and our daily habits, then get high scores on the next Midterm Exam, we should be able to earn Class Points, right?"
Zhuge Linghao sighed wistfully. "So that first month might have been the happiest, most carefree time we'll have. Like a beautiful dream?"
Ayanokoji remained expressionless. "Yeah. Our school's graduation and employment rates are almost 100%!"
Horikita Suzune closed her eyes in thought and imitated Chabashira-sensei's hoarse, low voice. "Looks like the only option is to move up a class. There's no future in Class D."
After a long silence, Horikita Suzune first sized up Zhuge Linghao's lean frame and judged him to be a weakling, a scrawny runt, a walking stick.
Then she looked at Ayanokoji's well-built upper body and asked in confusion, "Ayanokoji, what sports did you play before?"
Ayanokoji looked bewildered. "None. I was in the go-home club in middle school!"
Zhuge Linghao stumbled, nearly laughing hard enough to develop abs.
[Ayanokoji, if you're going to make something up, at least pick something believable. You were in the go-home club? As far as I know, aren't all go-home club members deadbeat otaku who love anime?]
[And what's wrong with being lean? Don't laugh, everyone! Think of Saitama!]
[The shorter the hair, the stronger you are. No hair at all? Then your strength is god-tier!]
[By that logic, the simpler your physique, the more it's a sign you're strong!]
Just as Zhuge Linghao was sinking into deep self-hypnosis, Kushida Kikyo leapt out of the pool like a mermaid.
She waved to Horikita and invited her over. "Horikita, would you like to swim with me?"
Horikita Suzune's expression darkened. She ignored the person who had spoken and looked away.
[Huh? That attempt to stir up trouble last time still didn't drive you two completely apart. Guess I didn't go far enough!]
Kushida Kikyo refused to give up and continued steering the conversation. "Could it be that you can't swim, Horikita? I can teach you~"
The view shifted. Horikita Suzune still wore a sour expression, her refusal obvious.
Back over here, Kushida Kikyo tried to look as gentle and polite as possible.
She said warmly and considerately, "I couldn't swim in middle school either, but I worked really hard and learned!"
This time, Horikita Suzune replied coldly, "Yes, that's wonderful for you."
Then she didn't waste another word. Without the slightest hesitation, she turned and walked away!
Kushida Kikyo climbed out of the pool and rested one hand on her chest, looking troubled. "I still really want to be friends with her!"
Zhuge Linghao couldn't help thinking, [Maybe not. Are you two planning to start making out or something?]
Kushida Kikyo didn't chase after Horikita. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Zhuge Linghao.
"Um, Zhuge, could we be good friends?"
Hearing that, Zhuge Linghao broke into a huge smile and replied in a voice that was gentle, sunny, and cheerful to the extreme.
"No!"
[System, system, are you dead asleep?]
[Have you finished upgrading?]
[Ding! Upgrade progress: 100%!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your system has been upgraded to Level 2. Rewards are being issued. Please claim them promptly.]
[System, put the rewards aside for now. Check Kushida Kikyo's personal profile for me!]
[Ding! Checking now!]
[School: Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School
Class: Class 1-D
Name: Kushida Kikyo
Alignment: Evil (66% progress)
Bust: ???
Academic ability: B
Intelligence: B
EQ: A+
Physical ability: B
Judgment: A-
Skills: Expression Control, Charismatic Appeal
Personality: Dual personality, desperately craves attention, extremely jealous.]
[Wow, those skills and that personality are described so accurately!]
[But, System, I have a serious question!]
[Ding... What question?]
[Why is her bust listed as ???]
[Ding! Unlock Level 3 of the system with 2,000 Emotion Points. Then you'll be able to see her bust size!]
[Come on. I had no idea you were that kind of system!]
[But I like it. Hehe!]
Before you continue