The summer sun blazed as cicadas chirped cheerfully.
Waves of heat rolled in like a surging tide, filling the air with the intense warmth unique to this season.
Under the blazing sun, though, one room had its air conditioner set to 20 degrees, its cool air a stark contrast to the heat outside.
Zhuge Linghao wished he could spend all 24 hours of the day in his cool, comfortable dorm room, enjoying this rare respite from the heat.
Final exams had come and gone, and Zhuge Linghao was taking it easy, waiting for emotional points to come his way.
On the first day of summer vacation, Zhuge Linghao's emotional points finally climbed past 3,000.
You might be wondering how he'd suddenly gained so many emotional points.
It was because the Sakura incident had made the school website. Zhuge Linghao had become a model student recognized for standing up for what was right, and after the students, teachers, and staff learned about it, they generated nearly a thousand emotional points!
[System, upgrade!]
[Ding... Upgrading...]
[Ding... The system has been upgraded to Level 3! Host, be sure to claim your upgrade reward!]
[System, claim reward!]
Zhuge Linghao was munching on a refreshing slice of watermelon when it suddenly went down the wrong way!
[Ding... Congratulations, host! You have obtained the permanent skill—Super Fast Escape!]
[???]
[What's with this system? Why does it keep giving me such ridiculous, useless skills? Is it broken or something?]
[Sigh, I'm used to it. Another skill for cowards!]
"Knock, knock, knock." Someone was at the door.
Already in a foul mood, Zhuge Linghao called out irritably, "Who is it? Why are you knocking so early in the morning?"
"It's me, Zhuge-kun." A voice like an oriole came from outside.
Zhuge Linghao opened the door—and there she was!
The shadow before Zhuge Linghao spoke in a leisurely manner. "Interested in taking down Class 1-A?"
Zhuge Linghao's fish-like eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious? You want to team up with a nobody from Class D like me?"
The previous night, rain had poured down. Behind one of the school buildings, five figures in raincoats were discussing something.
The first figure asked, "Is the equipment ready?"
The second replied, "Of course. Just make sure you get the placement right."
The third declared, "Operation: Secretly Film the Girls' Changing Room—launch!"
The fourth said, "That'll satisfy our loneliness and emptiness!"
The fifth said, "May everything go smoothly. God bless us!"
A sixth voice chimed in, "Hee-hee. If things go as expected, we'll get expelled if we're caught, right?"
The leader of the five figures said, "That's true. So this plan has to succeed. Failure isn't an option!"
Wait a minute. There were only five people, so where had that sixth voice come from? A ghost?!
The five only realized then that the sixth figure was Zhuge Linghao!
As Zhuge Linghao had passed by and seen them huddled together plotting something, he'd quietly slipped in among them without seeming out of place at all!
Zhuge Linghao beamed innocently at them. "You can forget about it. I'm going to report you!"
At the thought of all those beautiful girls being seen naked, Zhuge Linghao naturally...
[Want to see it too! I really want to see it! I dream about seeing it!]
But enjoying it alone was better than sharing the fun!
If he got his hands on some exclusive footage, Zhuge Linghao was sure his nosebleed would be fatal.
On the first day of summer vacation, Zhuge Linghao looked at the schedule on the wall and wore an extremely satisfied expression!
[6:40–7:10 Breakfast.
7:10–7:50 Memorize classical poems, science formulas, and humanities summaries.
8:00–8:30 Solve 12 multiple-choice math questions.
8:30–8:50 Complete 1 reading comprehension and 1 cloze exercise.
9:00–11:30 Complete 1 Chinese exam paper.
11:30–13:30 Lunch and nap.
13:30–14:30 Memorize chemistry formulas or physics concepts.
14:30–17:00 Complete 1 math exam paper.
18:00–20:00 Summer homework.
20:20–21:30 Review and summarize the day's mistakes and key concepts.
21:40–23:30 Answer 10 multiple-choice Chinese questions and 1 reading question; memorize vocabulary and classical poems.
23:40 Bedtime.]
Suddenly, a cool voice interrupted Zhuge Linghao's self-satisfaction.
"Had your fill? If so, please leave."
Zhuge Linghao hurriedly sat up straight, not daring to let his eyes wander. "Sorry, Suzune-chan. For a moment, I thought this was my room!"
It was his first time seeing Horikita in her pajamas. He just wondered if she was wearing the underwear Zhuge Linghao had given her at the start of term...
This was already Zhuge Linghao's third time in a girl's room, so he'd developed some resistance. Aside from his burning ears and his heart pounding like crazy, he showed no other unusual signs.
Horikita picked up her Chinese textbook. "As you can see, I'm following my study schedule and memorizing classical Chinese. What exactly do you want?"
Zhuge Linghao swallowed and touched his earlobe. "Um... Could I invite you to the pool?"
Horikita's fox-like eyes shot him a familiar death glare. "No. Get lost."
Zhuge Linghao felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart. His mouth fell open. "Hey, hey, hey! You turned me down way too quickly!"
Zhuge Linghao had no choice but to tell her the truth. "Actually, this concerns the future of Class D! Please, I'm begging you!"
Horikita said nothing, her textbook held against her back.
Zhuge Linghao continued, "Kanji Ike suggested going to the pool. They're planning to put a camera in the girls' changing room! I tried to stop them last night, but they all voted against me."
[Including Ayanokoji! You sneaky bastard, Ayanokoji—you can act, too!]
Horikita finally set down her book. After a moment's consideration, she gestured for him to leave.
When Zhuge Linghao still hadn't taken the hint, Horikita couldn't hold back her sharp tongue. "You pervert! Get out already. I'm changing and going out!"
"Sure thing! I'll wait for you outside!"
Hee-hee. Zhuge Linghao had successfully thrown Horikita Suzune's entire study schedule for the first day into disarray!
By the pool, two lounge chairs sat side by side beneath a beach umbrella.
"Golden-haired bro, when are you going to give me those 10,000 points?"
"Black-haired boy, you're rather impatient."
Zhuge Linghao shifted into a more comfortable position and took a sip of juice. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you. Could we use those 10,000 points to settle the debt? What do you say?"
Meili-ge Koenji, wearing sunglasses, replied, "Unfortunately, ever since I was old enough to think for myself, hardly anyone has been able to tell me what to do."
"But if it's a request from you, Black-haired boy, I might consider it."
Zhuge Linghao rejoiced inwardly and activated his skill to its fullest. "Could you take me along for some fitness training?"
"No."
[Damn it. My plan to get stronger over summer vacation has failed miserably!]
Just then, Ryuen and the Black Bodyguard appeared beside the lounge chairs!
"Hey, Zhuge Linghao. Your lackey's here too!"
Ryuen's distinctive, low voice rang out.
Zhuge Linghao jumped. He'd been caught red-handed right to his face!
Zhuge Linghao hurriedly glanced at Meili-ge. He was still combing his hair in the gold-trimmed mirror as usual, seemingly lost in his own world. Only then did Zhuge Linghao relax.
Ryuen stared at Zhuge Linghao. "Tell me, who came up with that bet?"
Lying had become second nature to Zhuge Linghao. "Obviously Horikita. Hmph! I told you, Horikita wouldn't let me get expelled."
Suddenly, a familiar, massive figure rose out of the pool!
Zhuge Linghao quickly pushed Ryuen aside. "Move over! You're blocking my view of the beauties!"
Then Zhuge Linghao broke into a lecherous grin.
[System, open Sakura Airi's personal profile. I want to see her bust size!!!]
Before you continue