KTV Incident

"Bro Ayanokoji, you heard what Horikita said just now, right?"

"I did. What about it?"

"So, sorry for the trouble, but could you get those three idiots over to Horikita?"

"Uh... why me?"

"You just had a bite, didn't you? Of the deluxe meal I treated you to?"

Bro Ayanokoji froze adorably, still holding a delicious piece of pork cutlet in his chopsticks.

At that moment, Zhuge Linghao and Ayanokoji were eating in the cafeteria.

Having gotten his way, Zhuge Linghao grinned slyly. "I'm counting on you, Bro Ayanokoji!"

"Besides, I just swindled those three out of thirty thousand points. If I go talk to them, they might not agree!"

Ayanokoji sighed helplessly. "All right, but I can't promise I'll succeed."

Zhuge Linghao gave him a thumbs-up and grinned. "I believe you can do it! Good luck!"

Zhuge Linghao hadn't joined any clubs, so he had plenty of time to wander around after school. He hoped he might trigger some kind of event.

The air in May carried the fragrance of the earth.

He'd heard there were a few popular spots in the shopping district before him, places where people went to take photos and check in online. The odds of running into someone he knew were supposed to be much higher there.

First, Zhuge Linghao decided to check out the karaoke place where the most people gathered.

But the tangled streets and shops left Zhuge Linghao completely disoriented. He had no idea where to start looking.

"Um, Zhuge? Are you out shopping?"

"Ichinose? And who's this?"

"This girl? She's Shiranami Chihiro, also from Class 1-B!"

"Hi, Shiranami. I'm Zhuge Linghao from Class 1-D. Nice to meet you!"

"Um, do you know where the karaoke place is?"

"Sure, we're heading there now. Want to come with us?"

"Huh! Is that okay?"

"Of course. Come along!"

As expected, students from all grades had gathered at the karaoke place.

Suddenly, the sound of an argument broke out up ahead.

I'm not seeing things, am I? The bald Katsuragi Kohei, the green-haired Totsuka Yahiko, and several other Class A students whose names I didn't know—what were they doing here?

When I got closer, uh, it turned out there was another group from my class, too!

Horikita Suzune, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Kushida Kikyo, Karuizawa Kei, Hirata Yosuke, and Yukimura Teruhiko were all there!

The two groups were facing off, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Karuizawa Kei said furiously, "We reserved this large private room first. How could you cut in line?"

Totsuka Yahiko immediately shot back, "Who said that? We were already in the room before you got here!"

[ Ding! The host's classmates have gotten into a conflict with Class A students. Please show off while also resolving the dispute! ]

[Now that's what I call an upgraded system. It feels like these events are triggering more often!]

[Oh, please, don't argue! Arguing like this won't get you anywhere!]

Thinking fast, Zhuge Linghao beat Ichinose Honami to the punch and called out in a cutesy voice.

[System, this time I choose A: square-dancing senior citizens!]

Following option A, Zhuge Linghao first whistled a few carefree notes, then forced his way between the two groups and swept his leg around in a whirlwind kick, clearing a space.

Then, under the confused, bewildered gazes of everyone present, he pulled out his phone, turned the volume all the way up, and played Phoenix Legend's famous song, "The Most Dazzling Folk Style"!

Next, he danced stiffly, huffing and puffing, his left hand tracing a dragon and his right hand painting a rainbow...

When the dance was over, he flushed bright red and called out, "Come on, do me a favor and let me have this big private room, okay?"

"Why should we? Get lost!"

"Quit messing around and get lost!"

Both sides shouted at him, having had enough.

[ Ding! Students nearby have generated a total of 76 emotion points. ]

Zhuge Linghao had to settle for the next best thing. "All right, listen to me. How about we decide who gets the room with a contest?"

The bald guy didn't seem to want to waste time either. He asked bluntly, "What kind of contest?"

"Easy. Whoever can do the most pull-ups wins. Best two out of three?"

"Sure. There's a pull-up bar in the park outside!"

With that, the whole group headed out in a long procession.

Just then, Kushida Kikyo tugged at Zhuge Linghao's hand. "Why don't we forget it? I'm worried someone might get hurt!"

"They won't. It's just a normal sports activity."

"But..."

"Don't worry. Class D will win for sure!"

Afterward, Zhuge Linghao became the announcer on the spot.

His eyes shining, Zhuge Linghao announced excitedly, "First up for Class D is Kushida Kikyo! I didn't expect that! Is Kushida really that eager, or is she just putting on a show? We'll have to wait and see!"

"Class A's competitor is a young lady with curly hair. What the—! I'd estimate her bust is somewhere between a D and an E cup. She's a rare find even in this whole school! Ow, ow, stop! I'll just stick to normal commentary!"

Only after Horikita Suzune let go of the soft flesh she'd pinched at Zhuge Linghao's waist did he dare continue.

"In the end, Kushida managed eight, while the young lady from Class A got nine. Class A wins by a hair!"

Then, looking at the two boys who stepped up, Zhuge Linghao instantly switched modes. His voice turned flat and listless. "Hirata Yosuke from Class D got seventeen. Totsuka Yahiko from Class A got fourteen. Class D wins."

For the final round, Zhuge Linghao went over to Bro Ayanokoji. "Bro Ayanokoji, you should go up!"

Ayanokoji stepped back. "I can't. I wouldn't be able to do many."

Sigh, Bro Ayanokoji was as conflict-averse as ever!

Horikita Suzune stepped forward. "I'll do it!"

"Why don't I go? I'm pretty fit!" said Karuizawa Kei.

Zhuge Linghao hurriedly stopped her. "No, their only competitor left is that bald guy. How can a girl's strength compare to that of a guy who works out all the time?"

"So don't fight me for it. I'll take this round!"

"Don't make me laugh. How many pull-ups can a weakling like you do?"

Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Kei both looked at him with obvious disbelief and questioned him at the same time.

"Hmph. Just watch!"

After spending fifty points on a Climber Experience Card, Zhuge Linghao said confidently, "Hey, bald guy, you go first!"

[Hmph, no matter how many that bald guy does, I'll do one more than him.]

[Not much damage, but maximum humiliation. Heh heh!]

But the bald guy was truly strong. He actually managed to do twenty in one go!

As usual, when Zhuge Linghao was in a crowd, he always followed the principle of making a big scene!

So Zhuge Linghao began doing his warm-up exercises with a mysterious air, stretching his left leg, then his right, doing a few high knees, then kicking his legs a few times...

Laughter rang out all around him.

"Is this guy for real? They're testing upper-body strength, and he's warming up his legs?"

"He's bound to lose. What a clown!"

"He actually dared to challenge Katsuragi to a pull-up contest. What an idiot!"

"I bet he can't even do ten!"

"Come on, everyone, let's count: one, two, three... eleven, twelve—what the hell?"

"He's up to fifteen, and he's still going!"

"Holy crap, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty..."

"Oh my god, he did it! Twenty-one!"

[ Ding! Class 1-A students in the park generated 10 emotion points, Class 1-B students 11, Class 1-C students 12, Class 1-D students 13, and second- and third-year students 35 in total. ]

Zhuge Linghao's face turned bright red. Rolling his eyes and pretending to be exhausted, he pitched forward into the arms of the Class A girl who'd competed earlier!

"Huh? Pervert! Take this!"

Zhuge Linghao couldn't help thinking: If I die beneath a peony, I'll still have died a gallant death!