[System, open personal panel.] [Ding, received.] [Ding, opening the host's personal panel.] ... School: Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School Class: Class 1-D Name: Zhuge Linghao Alignment: Neutral (Good or Evil?) Emotion Points: 18 ... Academic Ability: C Intelligence: C Emotional Intelligence: C Physical Ability: S (Temporary, one day) Judgment: C Skill: Fitness Athlete (Comes with a system; ability depends on luck.) Personality: Bad at everything but loves to talk back, hopelessly straightforward, and full of inner monologue. [I can't believe it. All my starting stats are so average.] [Well, whatever. People need time to grow.] [I see. Fitness Athlete boosts physical ability.] ...
Zhuge Linghao stood at the opening ceremony, listening to Student Council President Horikita Manabu's speech with nothing to do. "Man, no matter what school it is, opening speeches are always so boring."
The slightly hot air, carrying the faint smell of sweat, rushed into Zhuge Linghao's nose.
Putting up with his slight discomfort, Zhuge Linghao glanced around and noticed a hint of uncertainty in Horikita Suzune's profile.
As expected, you're still living in your brother's shadow. Instead of struggling to keep up with him, you should focus on being yourself.
After all, everyone in this world is unique. Don't imagine you can become Horikita Manabu 2.0. That's not the path you should take.
At long last, the opening ceremony ended. The instant the school leaders dismissed everyone, Zhuge Linghao used his "Fleet Feet" skill and raced back to the classroom first.
[Why the rush? Of course, it's to pick a good seat in class!]
[Where should I sit? Someone as high-profile as me has to choose a seat with some style, right?]
Just as expected, Zhuge Linghao sat in the last row, with Ayanokoji on his left and Horikita Suzune on his right.
But what he hadn't expected was that the student sitting in front of him was none other than Karuizawa Kei, a blonde gyaru with her hair tied in a ponytail.
[Wait, that's weird. I remember Karuizawa Kei sat near the front in the anime.]
Karuizawa Kei suddenly felt an uncomfortable gaze on her back. She whipped around and snapped, "What are you looking at? Keep staring at me like that, and I'll report you to the teacher!"
Zhuge Linghao nearly choked. Did you eat a bomb or something? Why are you so touchy?
I was just looking at your back and thinking about the ripple effects of the butterfly effect. Was there really any need to overreact?
Just as Zhuge Linghao was about to back down and apologize, the system suddenly dinged.
[Ding... The host has been falsely accused and humiliated. Triggering a quest...]
[Option A: Professional Contrarian. Plant your hands on your hips, tilt your head back 180 degrees, and point your nostrils at Karuizawa Kei. Retort indignantly: "Am I looking at you? I'm looking at the sky, the ground, and some legs. Which of your eyes saw me looking at you? Besides, if you weren't looking at me, how would you know I was looking at you? Why are you looking at me now? What are you looking at? I'm handsome. What does that have to do with you?"]
[Option B: Underworld Boss. Put on an air of superiority and point at Karuizawa Kei with disdain. Say: "Well, hello, beautiful lady! You look good, and you're just my type. How about I take you on as my underling? Come on, get down on your knees and pay your respects. I'll protect you from now on."]
[Option C: Keyboard Troll. You know people who hide in the shadows? They can do whatever they want and no one will notice! Choose to spread rumors and slander Karuizawa Kei behind her back. Exaggerate the story of how she was bullied in middle school and expose it on the school's online forum.]
[Here we go again. System, do you have to make things so hard for me?]
[Every option is basically asking me to get myself killed!]
[You shouldn't be called High-Profile Life. You should be called Get-Yourself-Killed Life.]
[Haven't you heard that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down? I'm still so weak. I'll get crushed before I can grow up!]
[Ding, 28 seconds remaining...]
[Well, being a professional contrarian does fit my personality, but it's way too good at making enemies.]
[And that keyboard-troll option is downright criminal!]
[Looks like I can only choose B...]
[But hey, at least I can earn some Emotion Points...]
[Come on, everyone's eyes on me.]
"Ahem, well... Hello, beautiful lady! You look good, and you're just my type. How about I take you on as my underling? Come on, get down on your knees and pay your respects. I'll protect you from now on."
Under the many bewildered and confused stares, Karuizawa Kei's face flushed bright red. She slapped him without hesitation.
Thanks to Fitness Hercules, Zhuge Linghao's reflexes had improved immensely.
Watching the little slap move as slowly as a turtle, Zhuge Linghao steeled himself and didn't even try to dodge.
[Hehe, just having fun.]
The slap cracked loudly, and the whole class fell silent.
[Ding... Forty people nearby have generated 40 Emotion Points.]
[Hey, mission accomplished.]
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhuge Linghao happened to see their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, stride into the classroom in a black-stockinged business suit and high heels.
Zhuge Linghao immediately tattled in a shamelessly gleeful voice: "Teacher, this girl hit me!"
Karuizawa Kei, looking flustered, reflexively waved her hands and denied it.
"That's enough. Everyone, back to your seats."
A trace of mockery showed in homeroom teacher Chabashira Sae's eyes. Her voice was low, yet pleasant.
She said hoarsely, "I'm your Class D homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae. I'll be guiding you and accompanying you for the next three years."
"First, I'll hand out some information about the school. Pass it back."
"This is a boarding school. Students are restricted from leaving campus and prohibited from contacting the outside world. However, the school has all kinds of facilities for you to live here, including entertainment facilities, of course."
"You can use the points on your Student Terminal to buy things."
"One thing worth mentioning: you can buy absolutely anything at this school with points."
"Points are automatically deposited on the first of each month. This month, you have 100,000 points, equivalent to 100,000 yen."
Quite a few students were ecstatic!
"Seriously? That's practically a fortune!"
"Ha, awesome! I can use this to buy a game console."
"100,000? My God, the school's loaded!"
Looking at the delighted students, Chabashira Sae doused their excitement without mercy. "This school believes in the principle of ability above all else. Getting into this school only means that you have value. But..."
Seeing the foolish, naive expressions on the faces of a few students who had stuck their necks out, Chabashira Sae seemed to decide there was no point saying more.
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