"Byakuya, are you free to come to the get-together tonight?" After school, Kanzaki asked Ying as he had before, though he already knew the guy would probably turn him down again.
"Huh? There's another get-together tonight? I thought you just asked me yesterday. Unfortunately, I've got Student Council work again today, just like yesterday~." Ying yawned and declined without a care.
"Forget about our busybody, Ying. Let's go get ready. We're heading to Ichinose's dorm tonight, so we can't embarrass ourselves." Hamaguchi came over, put an arm around Kanzaki, and led him out of the classroom.
"Wait? You're having the get-together at Ichinose's dorm tonight?" Ying suddenly perked up, eyes wide as he stared at Hamaguchi.
"Yeah. Didn't you know? We've been having the last few get-togethers at Ichinose's dorm." Hamaguchi said as if it were obvious.
Ying abruptly stood up, squeezed between Hamaguchi and Kanzaki, and said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry back to the dorm, shower, and meet up with everyone!"
Hamaguchi and Kanzaki: ...
That evening, in Ichinose's dorm room.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ichinose. I've had so much Student Council work that I couldn't make it to the last few get-togethers. I finally have some free time today." Ying greeted Ichinose with a smile. Behind him, Kanzaki and Hamaguchi gave him scornful looks.
"Not at all, not at all. I'm already grateful you could make time to come and hang out with us, Byakuya." Ichinose smiled back and ushered them into the room.
"Oh, right. I bought this broom that can double as a mop while I was browsing the mall recently. Consider it an apology for bailing on you all the last few times." As he spoke, Ying handed Ichinose something that looked like a magic broom.
Ichinose's eyelids twitched twice, but she accepted it with a smile.
Nearly twelve people were crammed into the ten-square-meter dorm room. Everyone sat in a circle playing board games and chatting about the interesting things that had happened lately.
"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 grin.
Ying: !!?
"Yeah, that does sound like something Byakuya would do," Kanzaki said, nodding in agreement.
"No, that's just a rumor! A complete slander!" Ying hurriedly protested.
[Beep! Detected that the host's persona-building progress has been too low recently. This system recommends that the host improve his B-Grade.]
'!? Lao Tong, you're finally awake! If you hadn't woken up soon, I would've forgotten all about you. So how do I improve my B-Grade?'
'Uh... System? Hello?'
What was with this thing? How could it pop up to say one thing, then go right back to sleep? Come on! Ying complained helplessly to himself.
Ying looked up and met Kanzaki's gaze. Kanzaki felt a chill run down his back. Just as he was about to make a run for it, Ying grabbed him in a bear hug.
Ying pushed Kanzaki down a little, then asked, "Hey, Kanzaki, do you... think I have B-Grade?"
Kanzaki: "??? What's B-Grade?"
"B-Grade. In English, it's style; in French, goût; in Latin, genus; in Russian, стиль; in German, it's..."
"Stop, stop, stop. I didn't ask how to say the word in other languages. I'm asking what it means!" Kanzaki said helplessly.
"B-Grade means a person's style, taste, and class. Something like that..."
"No." Before Ying could finish, Kanzaki answered without hesitation.
Ying then grabbed Hamaguchi and asked him the same question. He got the same answer and was devastated.
[Automatically detecting that the host's B-Grade is too low. Reclaiming rewards...]
!!!
"I'm sorry, everyone. I just remembered that I still have a little Student Council work left to do today. I'd better go take care of it, so I'll be off. See you!" Ying took off as soon as he finished speaking. I need to get back to the dorm and look up how to improve my B-Grade.
Kanzaki: "What on earth is that guy up to...?"
On Kouiku's campus forum.
Rijing Sange Pie: Guys, please tell me how to improve my B-Grade. I'm waiting online, and it's urgent!
AAACreeper: What's B-Grade?
Hououin Kyouma: Put on a white lab coat. El Psy Congroo.
Romeo and Pig: Try doing push-ups outside the cafeteria at noon. The results are phenomenal.
Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warrior: Don't listen to the person above. Just wear a yellow top, purple pants, and pink shoes, then walk around school twice.
Xiaosheng Rang Guniang Shoujing Le: Come to think of it, I once saw a book at the library called 100 Ways to Improve B-Grade!
Louxia Wo Juesi Ni: Please let me get topped by the person above.
Ying posted a thread on the campus forum. Most of the suggestions weren't practical, but a few were useful. He decided to check the library tomorrow and see if the book really existed.
At Kouiku's library, Ying wandered this way and that, marveling at the wide selection of books. At last, he found the book in a corner of the library.
"?!" The corner had not only 100 Ways to Improve B-Grade, but also The Riddler's Training Guide, Teach You How to Build a Persona in Three Minutes, and more. Ying felt this was the most useful collection in the entire library.
After taking the book he wanted, Ying started looking for a seat so he could study it carefully.
As he rounded a corner, Ying spotted a silver-haired first-year girl. She was stretching up on tiptoe to reach a book on the top shelf, but she still couldn't get it. Seeing this, Ying hurried over, took the book down, and handed it to her.
The girl accepted the book with both hands and smiled at Ying. "Thank you, classmate."
"No problem. It was nothing. Um... do you come here to read often?" Ying asked.
"Yes. After school, if I don't have anything else to do, I usually spend some time here," the girl replied.
"Sorry to ask, but is there somewhere around here where I can sit and read?" Ying thought the library was too big. If he searched for a place to read on his own, it might take a while. It would be better to just ask someone.
"Oh, sure. There are usually hardly any people where I read. If you don't mind, we can go together," the girl said with a smile.
"Sure."
"I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C. What about you?" Shiina asked, looking at Ying.
"My name is Baiye Ying. I'm from Class 1-B." So she really was Hiyori? Ying thought to himself.
After that, they chatted for a while, then went back to reading their own books.
Two hours later, Ying finished the last page of 100 Ways to Improve B-Grade and felt he'd learned a lot.
Just then, Ying noticed Shiina across from him twisting her neck. He remembered a technique from the book and decided to try it out. He closed his book.
"Are you leaving already, Baiye?" Shiina asked, looking at Ying.
Ying said nothing. He simply put on a pair of white gloves, then hurried to the counter and ordered a hot coffee. He bowed slightly, and the gold pocket-watch chain peeking from his sleeve—he didn't even know when he'd put it on—swayed as he carefully set the coffee cup on the table in front of Shiina. Tiny beads of condensation clung to the porcelain rim. He gently wiped them away with a napkin, then turned the handle so it faced Shiina.
"Madam, forgive my forwardness. Please lift your noble head just a little. I cannot bear to see your elegant swan neck bent over your book. Looking down for too long can cause cervical spine injuries, declining eyesight, and poor circulation. For your health, please look out the window with me and admire Kouiku's beautiful campus scenery, allowing your graceful neck to rest for a while." Ying inclined his head slightly and bent at the waist, his right hand clenched into a fist over his left chest and his left hand pressed against his trouser seam.
Shiina didn't understand what had just happened and instinctively answered, "Okay?"
"Thank you for your understanding. Then, if you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave." Maintaining a perfect bow, Ying faced Shiina and backed out of the library.
"Baiye?" Shiina watched him go, unsure what to do. Her gaze fell on 100 Ways to Improve B-Grade on the table, and she sank into thought...
Before you continue