Since Ying had gotten involved, everyone in Class D had acquired some information. They probably wouldn't be late so often or sleep in class like they had in the original story. This couldn't help but trouble Ying. He had no idea whether Class D would still end up with zero points like they had in the original.
So Ying decided to go probe Class D for information and see whether things really were completely different from the original, with everyone in Class D paying attention in class.
"Ding-ding-dong!"
The moment the lunch bell rang, Ying jumped up from his seat and sprinted out of the classroom, heading for Class D.
"What's he up to now?" Kanzaki gazed helplessly at Ying's retreating figure.
"Maybe his stomach hurts. He's been holding it in all class," Hamaguchi guessed.
When Ying reached the entrance to Class D, he saw that only a little over half the class was seated inside. It had taken him about thirty seconds to get there from the moment the bell rang, and he hadn't seen any other Class D students along the way.
Even allowing for the possibility that he'd missed five or six people, that still proved at least three or four hadn't come to class at all. Ying breathed a little easier. He didn't know how many students in Class D had skipped class in the original story, but if three or four of them had skipped, then Class D's score probably wouldn't be very high.
"Um, excuse me, do you need something from Class D?" asked a lively, adorable young woman with short brown hair.
"Ahem... cough... Kushida, long time no see! How have you been?" Seeing Kushida come over to talk to him, Ying choked on his own saliva.
"Um... I'm very sorry, but I don't think I recognize you. Have we met before? Could you introduce yourself again? And this time, how about we exchange contact information and become friends?" Kushida said with a smile, apparently not recognizing Ying.
Ying: ?
Right, I changed my appearance that day! I hope she never recognizes me...
"Byakuya, long time no see. Thanks so much for your advice last time. It stopped me from going down the wrong path. Otherwise... Anyway, thank you." As luck would have it, Hirata came out of the classroom just then and noticed Ying.
Even while keeping up her act, Kushida's eyelids twitched twice. "So you're Byakuya! You've changed so much in just a few days. Are you hiding from someone or something?"
"How could I be...? Hahaha..."
"You know Byakuya too, Kushida?" Hirata asked with interest.
"Of course! Byakuya's a friend from Class B whom I just met a few days ago," Kushida replied cheerfully.
"Yeah, yeah, we're good friends. Hahaha..." Ying and Kushida laughed awkwardly together.
"Is that so? Um, Byakuya, would you have time to talk one-on-one later? I'd like to discuss that matter with you some more," Hirata said.
"Oh! I just remembered I have plans with a friend, so I'll leave you two to talk. See you next time, Byakuya!" Kushida said, making a graceful exit.
Ying and Hirata headed to the school cafeteria together. On the way, Hirata said, "I wanted to thank you again for what you said that day. If you hadn't warned me, I might never have realized that Karuizawa's real problem came from her own inferiority complex."
"Oh, it was nothing. Really, nothing." Ying's nose nearly pointed straight up in the air.
"But Karuizawa's problem seems a lot more serious than I'd imagined. So I wanted to ask if you had any more insights, Byakuya."
"That's a bit..."
"Let me treat you to lunch. We can talk properly."
"Come on, Hirata, no need to be so formal. Your business is my business. I'm happy to lend my brother a hand, however little I can do. Let's have a long talk over lunch! Just make sure my portion's extra spicy."
After discussing it over lunch, Hirata and Ying came up with a solution. First, they needed to help Karuizawa see the good in the world, recognize her own strengths, and build some confidence. Then she could gradually learn to stand on her own. It would be a long process, and it might not even work in the end, but Hirata was determined to keep trying. Their friendship moved Ying, and he promised to help whenever Hirata needed him—as long as there was food involved...
After school, Ying went to the store to buy file folders at Horikita Manabu's request. Of course, he'd wanted to turn him down, but Horikita Manabu had actually given him ten thousand personal points. Why buy anything but the cheapest folders? He could keep whatever was left over!
After carefully choosing the best-value folders, Ying still had quite a bit of money left, so he decided to buy some snacks and drinks as well.
"Hm?"
As Ying wandered through the drinks section, he noticed a purple-haired girl make a round of the area and leave without taking anything. But had she really left empty-handed?
Ying went over to the shelves and looked. There was a conspicuous gap in the alcohol section. Kouiku students generally didn't drink much. Could it be...? Wow, Kamuro was a real pro!
Outside the store, Ying stopped Kamuro. "You're a real pro!"
He waved the beer in front of Kamuro and gave her a thumbs-up.
Kamuro jumped. That was... the beer she'd just stolen! "When did you—?" she said, quickly checking her pockets. "Huh? It's still here?"
Ying was a little confused. Hadn't he just bought this himself? She sure had an active imagination...
"What do you want?! Are you going to report me to the school?!" Kamuro glared at Ying through gritted teeth.
Ying covered his left eye with his right hand and let out a cackling laugh. "You wouldn't want the school to find out you were stealing, would you? Heh heh heh..."
"Y-You... what are you going to do?!" Kamuro hugged herself and took two steps back.
Then Ying suddenly realized something: it was only the first month of the school year. Where would a first-year student have any savings?
As he thought this, Ying put the Student Terminal he'd just taken out back in his pocket. Yet that tiny gesture made Kamuro...
"W-What?! You'd dare do that here...? No, I'll come to your dorm tonight. Just not here!" Kamuro said, then shut her eyes and crouched down.
Ying: ? What was this girl thinking?
"Alas... You're not enough for me yet. I'll come for you once I've fattened you up. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this. But if you keep doing things like this, someone else is bound to catch you eventually. It's not too late to turn back." With that, Ying turned to leave.
"What?! You think I'm not good enough?! Pervert! Creep! Filthy! Ant! Cockroach! Maggot!..." Hearing Ying's words, Kamuro suddenly jumped up in anger and unleashed a string of insults at him.
Ying: ...? Wait, she wasn't insulting him, was she? The insults didn't even seem to fit.
So Ying ignored Kamuro as she continued ranting and walked straight away...
When he got back to his dorm that evening, Ying suddenly remembered that Ayanokoji lived right next door. If he wanted information on Class D, wouldn't it be better to ask him?
In Room 401, Ayanokoji was watching TV when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
Could it be Ike and the others? Ayanokoji wondered.
"Hey, Ayanokoji! This is my first time coming over to visit you. Look, I just bought this game console. It cost me fifty thousand personal points. Let's play!" Ying stood at the door with a huge bag of gaming equipment, smiling at Ayanokoji.
"Sure..."
After they'd played for a while, Ying asked, "By the way, your Class D already knows about that information, right?"
"You mean the points and class divisions? Hirata did tell the whole class about it this Monday."
"Exactly. Everyone in Class B takes it seriously. We're always discussing strategies whenever we have free time," Ying said, working the controller in his hands.
"Class B really lives up to its reputation. It feels like most of the students in Class D haven't changed at all."
"Haven't changed...?" Ying murmured.
"Ayanokoji! Take this!" Ying suddenly shouted.
The game screen flashed the letters KO.
"Hahaha, Ayanokoji, you're not all that!" Ying said smugly.
Ayanokoji thought expressionlessly, He was the one who invited me to play. I'd feel a little bad if I didn't win a single match.
"Knock, knock, knock."
At that moment, three more visitors arrived in Room 401: Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo.
"Whoa! This is the super popular new game, Water Shadow Ninja: Brainstorm! Ayanokoji, when did you buy it? And who's this?" Ike exclaimed in shock.
Ying introduced himself. After getting to know the trio of idiots, he invited them to join the game.
"Take this, Sassaru! Susanoo!" Yamauchi shouted.
"Try this! Talk no Jutsu: Bond Technique!" Ike wasn't about to be outdone.
"Ying! Hold on! Castling!" Sudo shouted at him.
"Strategy Card: Nullification! How are you going to handle this, Ayanokoji?!" Ying laughed and turned to Ayanokoji.
"Trap Card activated: Goblin Cage," Ayanokoji said calmly.
They kept playing until late into the night. The trio of idiots even borrowed Ying's game console, which directly led to them being late every morning and sleeping through class from then on. Hagi-Ying, was this all part of your calculations too?
Ying: What on earth should be done about Class D?
Before you continue