Ying Wants to Raise His Cool Factor (1)

"Byakuya, are you free for the get-together tonight?" After school, Kanzaki asked for Ying's opinion just as he always did, though he knew deep down that this guy would likely decline again.

"Eh? Is there one tonight? I remember you just asked me yesterday. It's a real shame, but I have student council work today just like yesterday~." Ying yawned and refused nonchalantly.

"Forget about our busybody Ying. Let's go tidy up; we're heading to Ichinose's dorm tonight, we can't afford to make a fool of ourselves." Hamaguchi walked over, threw an arm around Kanzaki, and started heading out of the classroom.

"Wait? Your get-together is at Ichinose's dorm tonight?" Ying suddenly perked up, his eyes widening as he stared at Hamaguchi.

"Yeah, didn't you know? The last few times, we've been holding the gatherings at Ichinose's dorm." Hamaguchi said as if it were obvious.

Ying suddenly stood up, pushed past between Hamaguchi and Kanzaki, and said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry back to the dorm, take a shower, and go meet up with them!"

Hamaguchi and Kanzaki: ...

In the evening, inside Ichinose's dorm.

"Oh my, oh my, my apologies, Ichinose. The student council work has been far too much, I haven't been able to come over and hang out with everyone the last few times, but I'm finally free today." Ying greeted Ichinose with a smile. Behind him, Kanzaki and Hamaguchi shot him looks of disdain.

"Not at all, I'm already grateful that Byakuya could find the time to come and join us." Ichinose smiled back at them and led them into the room.

"Right, this is a broom that doubles as a mop I bought while browsing the mall recently. Consider it an apology for flaking on you guys the last few times." As Ying spoke, he shoved something that looked like a magic broom into Ichinose's hands.

Ichinose's eyelid twitched twice, but she smiled and accepted it.

The 10-square-meter room was packed with nearly 12 people. Everyone was sitting in a circle playing board games and chatting about recent interesting events.

"Hey, Byakuya, speaking of which, I heard someone saw you walk into the wrong classroom on the first day of school!" Beppu said with a laugh.

Ying: !!?

"Hmm, that really sounds like something Byakuya would do." Kanzaki nodded in agreement from the side.

"No, that's pure rumor, pure slander." Ying said hurriedly.

[Beep! Detected that the host's persona development progress is too low. This system suggests the host increases their coolness factor.]

!? Lao Tong, you're finally awake! If you didn't wake up, I would've almost forgotten about you. So, how do I increase my coolness factor?

Uh... System? Moshi moshi?

How does this thing just pop out to say one sentence and then go back to sleep, hey! Ying complained powerlessly in his heart.

Ying raised his head and happened to lock eyes with Kanzaki. Kanzaki felt a chill down his spine and, just as he was about to run, he was grabbed by Ying.

Ying pushed Kanzaki's frame a bit lower and asked, "Hey, Kanzaki, do you... think I have a coolness factor?"

Kanzaki: "??? What is a coolness factor?"

"Coolness factor, in English it's style, in French it's goût, in Latin it's genus, in Russian it's стиль, in German it's..."

"Stop, stop, I didn't ask you for the word in other languages, I asked what the meaning of the word is!" Kanzaki said helplessly.

"Coolness factor is a person's style, taste, class. Something like that..."

"No." Before Ying could finish his sentence, Kanzaki answered quickly.

Then Ying pulled Hamaguchi over to ask the same thing and got the same answer, feeling deeply struck.

[Automatically detected that the host's coolness factor is too low, currently reclaiming rewards...]

!!!

"My apologies, everyone. I just remembered I still have a bit of student council work left, I have to go do it right away, so I'll be taking my leave first, Kano!" After saying that, Ying ran off immediately. I have to get back to the dorm and search for how to improve my coolness factor.

Kanzaki: "What on earth is this guy doing..."

On the Kouiku campus forum.

Rijing Sange Pie: Family, looking for ways to improve my coolness factor, waiting online, very urgent!

AAACreeper: What is a coolness factor?

Hououin Kyouma: Wear a lab coat. el psy congroo

Romeo and Pig: You could try doing push-ups in front of the cafeteria at noon, the effect is outstanding.

Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warrior: Don't listen to the guy above, you just need to wear a yellow top, purple pants, and pink shoes when you go out, and walk around the school twice.

Xiaosheng Rang Guniang Shoujing Le: Speaking of which, I saw a book called 100 Ways to Improve Your Coolness Factor in the library one day when I went to return a book.

Louxia Wo Juesi Ni: Begging to be topped by the person above.

Ying posted a thread on the campus network. Although most of the methods were unusable, there were a few useful ones among them. Now, Ying decided to go to the library tomorrow to see if that book really existed.

Inside the Kouiku library, Ying wandered left and right, marveling at the completeness of the books in the campus library. Finally, in a corner of the library, Ying discovered the book.

"?!" In this corner, there was not only 100 Ways to Improve Your Coolness Factor, but also A Guide to Raising a Riddler, as well as Teaching You How to Build a Persona in 3 Minutes, and so on. Ying felt that this was the most useful episode of the library.

After getting the target book, Ying started looking for a seat, preparing to study it thoroughly.

Walking past a corner, Ying noticed a silver-haired first-year girl. She was standing on her tiptoes trying to reach a book on the top shelf, but couldn't quite get it. Seeing this, Ying walked up quickly, took the book down, and handed it to the girl.

The girl took the book from Ying with both hands and then thanked him with a smile: "Thank you, fellow student."

"It's nothing, just a small favor. Um... do you come here to read often?" Ying asked.

"Yes, after school, if I'm free, I'll read here for a while." The girl replied.

"Then, excuse me, may I ask if there is anywhere nearby where one can sit and read?" Baiye Ying felt that this library was too large; if he were to look for a place to read by himself, it might take a while. It would be better to just ask someone directly.

"Oh, sure. The place where I usually read is basically empty. If you don't mind, let's go together." The girl said with a smile.

"Alright."

"I am Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C. And you are?" Shiina asked, looking at Baiye Ying.

"My name is Baiye Ying, and I am from Class 1-B." So she really is Hiyori, Baiye Ying thought to himself.

Afterward, they chatted for a while longer before returning to their respective books.

Two hours later, Baiye Ying finished the last page of 100 Ways to Elevate Your Class and felt that he had benefited greatly.

Just then, Baiye Ying noticed Shiina across from him twisting her neck. Recalling the methods from the book, Baiye Ying decided to put them into practice. He closed his book.

"Baiye-kun, are you leaving already?" Shiina asked, looking at him.

Baiye Ying said nothing, simply putting on a pair of white gloves before quickly heading to the counter to order a hot coffee. He bowed slightly, the gold pocket watch chain that had appeared on his cuff at some point swaying as he placed the coffee cup steadily on the table in front of Shiina. Fine beads of condensation clung to the rim of the porcelain cup, which he wiped away gently with a tissue. Finally, he turned the handle so it faced toward Shiina.

"My lady, forgive my presumption. Please lift that noble head of yours; I truly cannot bear to watch your elegant swan-like neck bent down toward a book. Prolonged bowing can lead to cervical spine damage, vision decline, and restricted blood circulation. For the sake of your health, please join me in gazing out the window at the wonderful campus scenery of Kouiku, and let your beautiful neck relax for a moment." Baiye Ying nodded slightly, his body bent in a shallow bow, his right hand fisted over his left chest while his left hand remained pressed against the seam of his trousers.

Shiina was caught off guard by what was happening and subconsciously replied, "Okay?"

"Thank you for your understanding. Please excuse me." Maintaining a standard bowing posture, Baiye Ying faced Shiina and backed away until he had left the library.

"Baiye-kun?" Left behind, not knowing what to do, Shiina looked at the copy of 100 Ways to Elevate Your Class sitting on the table and fell into deep thought...