Chapter 99

The class fund manager of Class A was originally planning to discuss class affairs with the Leader of Class A, but when he looked over at Aragaki, he thought, "Hmm, this atmosphere seems a bit off."

After a moment's thought, Kanzaki decisively turned away as if nothing had happened and naturally Shibata Sou about various club-related topics.

At the same time, Shiranami Chihiro's classmate, Kobashi Yume, instinctively grabbed her friend's arm, as if afraid that she was about to do something irrational.

Chihiro rolled her eyes at the other person, then turned around Shiina Hiyori.

"Hello, my name is Shiranami Chihiro. Aragaki-kun and my friends all like to call me Chihiro. If you don't mind, Shiina can also call me that."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Shiina Hiyori and nodded. "Chihiro can also just call me by my name, 'Hiyori.'"

"Yes, Hiyori, we'll all be classmates from now on. If you feel uncomfortable in Class A, please let us know. Everyone here is very nice and friendly."

"I know, but with Shun-kun here, I'm sure I'll be able to fit into this class quickly."

Aragaki Shun Hiyori, with a smile in her eyes, tapped Aragaki Shun beside her with her book, and naturally received a response from the boy:

"Hiyori has a great personality, so it'll be easy for her to integrate into Class A. Just take it slow, everyone."

Shiranami Chihiro didn't object to this point, but—

"Shun-kun... I still prefer to call him Aragaki-kun, that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Of course, you can call me whatever you like, as long as you feel comfortable with it."

Patting Shiranami Chihiro's head, Aragaki Shun reminded her, "Hoshinomiya-sensei is about to start class, so don't let your mind wander. If your grades drop to the bottom twenty, your free time on weekends will be greatly reduced."

"Hehe~ No way, I'm constantly improving."

After playfully rubbing her hand against Aragaki Shun's palm, the girl obediently turned around. The gazes that had been secretly glancing at them seemed to relax and return to normal.

The Leader of Class A is silent; his presence is too strong, and being constantly in the spotlight isn't a good thing.

It seems we need to find a way to reduce our visibility or correct those unusual situations that defy common sense.

Thinking of this, Aragaki Shun looked up at the invisible Personal Panel in front of him.

[Achievement Completed: Created the first Advanced Nurturing program with a transfer cost of 20 million, Source Power +4]

[Achievement Completed: Recruited key members of Class C, strengthening Class A, Source Power +2]

[Due to prolonged influence, the automatic acquisition of Source Power this month: 5 items]

[Source Power: 18→29 (Current efficiency: 5 per month)]

With the Source Power already received this month, and the impact of Shiina transfer, the Source Power he can now freely control has suddenly increased to 19.

After a moment's thought, Aragaki Shun decided not to continue accumulating Source Power to solidify the [Sun Kin] he had been eagerly anticipating.

Instead, she summarized her previous research on reducing her presence and then applied it to achieve the effect she wanted.

The next second, another unknown skill appeared in the [Pending Condensation] section of the Personal Panel.

[Abnormal Neglect lv.0(0/?)]

As Aragaki Shun gradually transcends ordinary people, he will inevitably do all sorts of illogical things in the future.

Therefore, before he fully matures, the panel lacks a skill that can passively correct the witness's common sense and rationalize all his actions.

However, if one could truly achieve that level, then the skill level would undoubtedly have entered the Transcendent Realm, which is unrealistic at this stage.

Therefore, for the time being, it is not necessary to go to the point of "correction". It is enough to reduce his presence and make people "ignore" his abnormality.

He himself doesn't mind being the center of attention, after all, he's been used to it since he was a child.

However, if the reason for attracting attention is because of their philandering and promiscuity, it will tarnish the reputations of Shiina Hiyori and Shiranami Chihiro.

It's best to avoid this kind of thing as much as possible.

Even if it cannot be avoided, we should do our best to minimize its impact.

Surely they can't let their own willfulness force them to bear the pressure of societal norms after finally making a decision, can they?

The next second, the Source Power was consumed like flowing water, and this brand-new skill was permanently fixed on the character panel.

[Abnormal Neglect lv.0 (0/?) → Abnormal Neglect lv.2 (0/3) → Abnormal Neglect lv.3 (0/4)]

[Source Power: 29→13→10 (Current efficiency: 5 items per month)]

Solidifying a skill consumes 16 units of Source Power. The initial level of the skill is lv.2. After investing the remaining 3 units of Source Power, it was directly upgraded to lv.3.

Aragaki Shun closed his eyes, intuitively sensing the gazes coming from all directions. He estimated that within a few seconds, these gazes had decreased by about half, and after another half minute, they had disappeared to only a quarter of their original size.

From this perspective, the new skill seems to be working quite well, but its level is too low and it needs further enhancement to achieve better results.

But for now, that's enough.

"Chihiro, what are you really thinking?"

After school in the afternoon, as Aragaki Shun Shiina Hiyori calmly walked to the library, Shiro-nami's two best friends, Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako, couldn't hold back any longer.

After exchanging a glance, the two simply pulled Shiro-nami into a private room in the coffee shop, staring at their best friend as if they were conducting an interrogation.

"Right now, it's just me and Yume here. Even Honami-chan isn't here. If you have any grievances, you can speak up directly, even if it means facing the class monitor... um... the class monitor..."

Looking at his friend who had been looking worried but was now stuttering and embarrassed, Shiro-nami rolled his eyes at him speechlessly.

"What grievances do I have? I was the third party in the relationship, so why should I stand on moral high ground and criticize someone who came later?"

"Ah?"

Amikura Mako was completely dumbfounded, Kobashi Yume almost spat out her coffee. Both of them were stunned after hearing Shiro-nami's overly direct remarks.

"The... the... the third party... Chihiro, you... you... you... you..."

Despite usually giving off an impression of weakness and vulnerability, he could utter such words without batting an eye. Even Amikura Mako doubted whether this person was truly her calm, generous, gentle, and considerate friend.

"Ah~ After all, I'm neither as beloved as Honami-chan, nor do I have the brilliant mind of Hiyori. In terms of both looks and temperament, I can't compare to many people in my grade."

While revealing her own shortcomings, Shiranami Chihiro chuckled nonchalantly, "Under these circumstances, the fact that someone like me could become Aragaki-kun's first girlfriend is naturally because I'm shameless enough."

Aragaki-kun already has a fiancée, Shiina Hiyori girls with high moral character like Ichinose Honami and Hiyori Shiina would never willingly become a third party who interferes in someone else's relationship or marriage.

"I am such a despicable and immoral woman. I know perfectly well that there are things I shouldn't do, yet I still fly towards that flame like a moth to a flame."

With one hand idly stirring her coffee with a spoon, and the other hand propping up her chin, Chihiro's voice sounded somewhat erratic, like a cloud drifting in the wind.

"Aragaki-kun is the adopted son-in-law of the Aragaki Family. I've heard that such prestigious families have strict rules, and I'm a little worried. If we graduate from Advanced Nurturing in three years, will we still be able to interact as freely as we do now?"

"What is Ayase, Ayase- Aragaki-kun's fiancée, like? With Aragaki-kun's protection, she shouldn't have to worry about being sunk in Tokyo Bay, right?"

Are you jealous of Shiina Hiyori?

That's true to some extent.

But this kind of thing doesn't seem to be very important.

After all, she herself is a third party in a relationship, and her future is uncertain.

When she finally decided to confess her feelings to Aragaki-kun, she was fully prepared to spend her life without any official status, only able to stay by his side as Aragaki-kun lover.

If that great demon king named Ayase agrees...

They'll probably agree, right?

After all, Aragaki-kun said he would overcome those obstacles... but is it really possible to amend the Marriage Law?

A question flashed through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it, her mind clouded by love.

If Aragaki-kun said he could do it, then he definitely can!

While Shiro-nami was mentally encouraging himself, Amikura Mako and Kobashi Yume couldn't hold back any longer.

Their classmate and best friend actually decided from the very beginning to become a third party who would destroy other people's relationships?

Is this really something they should be listening to at their age?

"No, I just wanted to join them. I never intended to ruin Aragaki-kun and Ayase's relationship."

Because it's simply impossible to destroy!

Aragaki-kun is the type who is very nostalgic and believes in feelings that develop over time.

In his eyes, feelings are something that can only become a precious treasure after standing the test of time.

Therefore, Shiro-nami never dared to hope that he could surpass Aragaki-kun and make him give up his fiancée.

Because that's simply unrealistic; if you have that kind of thought, you'll only end up being abandoned.

"No! I have a bit of a headache right now, Chihiro don't talk about it."

Amikura Mako raised her hand to stop Shiro-nami's remarks, and after calming down, she took several minutes to sort out the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

Looking at her friend across from her with a complicated expression, Amikura Mako had a wry smile on her face.

So, Yume and I were just worrying for nothing?

"That should be the case," Kobashi Yume nodded. " With Chihiro's mental fortitude, she probably doesn't need any outside comforting."

It's truly astonishing that my friend would be so unconventional.

However, it seemed that they couldn't say much about this kind of thing.

To support it would seem unethical; but to oppose it would feel like the friendship would end abruptly.

"Forget it, you and the class monitor can discuss it yourselves. We won't interfere anymore."

Let them just give up; Chihiro doesn't need their help at all.

Compared to Shiina Hiyori, her true strength lies in her close friends.

"Hmm~ Actually, it wouldn't be a problem to help them," Chihiro said softly, her eyes darting around, a little uneasy. "If possible, I really need Asako and Yume's help..."

"What kind of help are you talking about?" Amikura Mako's lips twitched. Having been utterly shocked today, her impression of her friend had completely crumbled. "I hope I don't hear anything else that will shatter my worldview."

"Ahem~ Well, if Asako and Yume are interested, they can join us..."

Amikura Mako: "???"

Kobashi Yume: "!!!!"

The girl's voice was soft, but at this moment it sounded like thunder across the sky, deafening, leaving the two of them momentarily stunned.

Seeing her two friends' stunned expressions, Chihiro, who had already spoken, simply gave up and explained, "Because, because Aragaki-kun is just too strong, I can't handle him."

"I know I'm useless and can't help much with other things, but at least as a girlfriend, shouldn't I make my partner Matsushita in bed instead of always accommodating me?"

That's absolutely unacceptable!

If she can't even satisfy her lover with her body, then she's completely unqualified to be a mistress.

And the girl also had some ulterior motives...

With Aragaki-kun's superhuman physical abilities, even if he marries Ayase, she probably won't be able to fully satisfy him.

If I bring Asako and Yume along, wouldn't that be the perfect way to solve her problem?

Yes, that's it!

169. A devastating blow to Ryuen; give five million, then leave the Advanced Nurturing.

While Shiranami Chihiro was trying to pull her friends into the water, Aragaki Shun, who was reading in the library with Shiina, was approached by a group of students from Class D.

Somewhat annoyed, the boy put down his book and looked at Yosuke Hirata, Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and the others in front of him, and said bluntly:

"If your question concerns the conflict between Kanji Ike and Class C, then please leave."

"I've already spoken to Karuizawa. In this conflict, Class A will remain neutral, and as the Student Council representative, I'm responsible for handling this matter, so it's crucial to treat both sides fairly and impartially."

"So don't even think about trying to find a way in through me, otherwise I'll consider it harassment of the referee, and Kanji Ike's punishment will only be more severe."

Aragaki Shun had a general idea of the cause and effect of this conflict, and understood that it was very likely a setup deliberately orchestrated by Ryuen.

But since it's a dogfight between Class C and Class D, as the Leader of Class A, he naturally only needs to stand by and watch.

As for the claim that most members of Class D joined the Aragaki Faction, should they be considered an affiliated force of Class A?

Ha~ In the end, the relationship between the two classes is just that of employer and employee. During Special Exam, one side pays and the other side provides the labor.

Apart from that, they don't usually have any close alliance conditions.

Or rather, who would be so foolish as to do something as thankless and arduous as forming an alliance with Class D?

No matter how you look at it, this is a losing business.