The Unconventional Office Drone Doesn't Want to Meet a Persistent, Aloof Iceberg!

The entrance ceremony at the Gymnasium slowly drew to a close amidst the long-winded speeches of the school leadership.

It was nothing more than the usual welcoming of freshmen, grandiloquent proclamations about the school's glorious history and vision, and the inevitable emphasis on discipline.

For Akiyama Shin, who had already seen through the nature of this school, these words felt hollow to the point of absurdity.

He stood at the very end of the Class D formation, watching with cold indifference as the impassioned speaker held the podium and the students below displayed their varied reactions.

By the time the ceremony concluded, it was nearly noon.

The afternoon was set aside for free time; formal classes at Advanced Nurturing High School were not scheduled to begin until the following day.

Like a dam bursting, the students flooded out of the Gymnasium, quickly coalescing into small groups and excitedly discussing where to go for lunch.

The cafeteria and the various restaurants on campus were about to welcome their first wave of freshman customers.

Observing these students as they rapidly sorted themselves into cliques, Akiyama Shin calmly categorized them in his mind.

In any Japanese high school, especially in an enclosed environment like this, the social structure of the student body could generally be divided into a few types.

The first type.

The class "normies."

They were typically attractive, outgoing, and possessed high social intelligence, allowing them to quickly build connections with the majority and become the focus of the class and the core of its social network. Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo of Class D undoubtedly belonged to this tier.

The second type.

The small-circle group.

They had their own fixed friend groups, and their social reach was relatively limited. They might not be as conspicuous as the first type, but they were not isolated from the class either. In fact, the majority of students belonged to this category.

The third type.

Could be roughly classified as the "average" or the "invisible bottom-feeders."

In Akiyama Shin's view.

There was no essential difference between the two for the time being; both implied a lack of presence and influence within the collective class.

They might be introverted, inarticulate, or possess hidden flaws, making them the most likely targets for school bullying and collective isolation.

Of course, there were also those like Koenji Rokusuke, who stood completely apart from this system as a maverick.

Akiyama Shin currently categorized himself as an average person. While he did not deny his own extraordinary capabilities, he was also soberly aware of his cold personality.

After all, his lack of desire for proactive socialization destined him to never become the kind of popular "normie."

Even if he possessed striking looks, they would only bring initial attention from others rather than genuine interpersonal affinity.

He walked aimlessly with the flow of people, refining his analytical framework for Class D in his mind.

Ability-based class assignment... my uneven academic performance and social deficiencies... led to me being placed in Class D...

Then, the other 39 people in Class D must also possess various problems or flaws.

For instance, Sudo Ken's volatile temper and potential disciplinary issues, the frivolity and low-brow interests of Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji, and even the communication barriers and rigid thinking of Horikita Suzune. Even Hirata Yosuke's "nice guy" personality, which prioritized harmony to a fault and likely lacked decisiveness, were all flaws of Class D...

As for why Akiyama Shin hadn't introduced himself to the others in Class D yet still knew the names of the most prominent figures, it was because when he had been chatting with Kushida Kikyo and the others earlier, she had tried to bridge the distance, apologizing on behalf of Yamauchi Haruki and his friends for their lack of restraint in the name of friendship.

Although Kushida Kikyo's apology had been sincere, Akiyama Shin instinctively felt that she was merely putting on an act. This wasn't a baseless assumption; there was evidence.

After all, even if one truly wanted to be friends with their classmates, Akiyama Shin didn't believe such a purely kind person existed who, having known them for so little time, would be willing to inconvenience themselves to apologize for the blunders of flawed individuals like Yamauchi Haruki.

Perhaps it was too absolute, but Akiyama Shin believed that, at the very least, Kushida Kikyo was not that kind of person.

If one were to suggest there was some personal grudge involved, Akiyama Shin would say there was none.

He was naturally observant, and because of that, he was sensitive to emotions and could easily detect shifts in the moods of others.

Therefore, he felt that even Honami Ichinose from Class B was more authentic than the hypocritical facade Kushida Kikyo presented.

Setting aside these digressions, back to the main point.

If Akiyama Shin truly wanted to utilize this class, or even lead it to Class A, he had to gain a deep understanding of every single person within it.

Then, he would evaluate their value and risks, and discern their hearts and desires. This was far more complex and interesting than mere academic competition.

Just as he was lost in thought, a cold, familiar female voice came from behind, interrupting his train of thought.

"What did you ask Chabashira-sensei when you went to see her?"

Akiyama Shin stopped in his tracks and turned around, his expression blank.

It was indeed Horikita Suzune.

She stood there alone, her long, dark hair fluttering gently in the afternoon breeze.

The braided pigtails with white ribbons hung over her chest, and her delicate face bore an undisguised sense of inquisitiveness.

And a hint of entitlement in her questioning.

At this moment, in Akiyama Shin's heart, the name Horikita Suzune had been firmly pinned to the top of his list for suppression and "re-education."

He had no special interest in Horikita Suzune as a person at this stage, but her attitude—as if she were naturally entitled to know everything and others were obligated to report information to her—had successfully ignited a strong sense of annoyance in him.

In Akiyama Shin's view, a character who was so arrogant based on such a one-sided perception, and whose communication skills were completely non-existent...

Must be thoroughly "re-educated"!

To change the other party, one can only rely on precise strikes and guidance in the future, reversing their erroneous cognitive patterns and behavioral logic to make them usable, or even an asset. This requires patience, strategy, and cold-bloodedness at critical moments.

His emotions did not show on his face at all; he merely looked back at Horikita Suzune calmly with those dark red pupils.

He spat out four words indifferently.

"No comment."

Horikita Suzune frowned, displeased by Akiyama Shinichi's dismissive attitude.

She was no fool. The various signs since the start of school, especially the deep meaning that might be hidden behind those 100,000 points, as well as Akiyama Shinichi's swift action of seeking out the homeroom teacher, made her vaguely sense that this school was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Competition was inevitable.

It was just that the form remained unknown.

Suppressing the displeasure in her heart, she attempted to obtain information in a more rational way. She straightened her back, her tone carrying a slightly stiff directness.

"We are in the same class now; in a sense, we are a community of shared interests."

"Facing the potential competition..."

"Information sharing is the foundation."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words, before continuing.

"At the start of school... it was my judgment that was flawed..."

"I admit, I may have underestimated you."

This sentence sounded exceptionally difficult coming from her, but it was the greatest degree of concession and recognition she could make.

Akiyama Shinichi calmly analyzed Horikita Suzune's words and demeanor. He naturally knew that she possessed a certain foundation of strength, whether in academic ability or her stubbornness to not fall behind others. Her academic ability was judged from her arrogant and condescending attitude; after all, those who have been excellent from the beginning always have this sense of superiority. However, her biggest problem lay in her over-reliance on one-sided information and subjective assumptions, her singular thinking pattern, and her severe lack of emotional intelligence and the ability to empathize.

As for her admission of misjudgment just now.

Akiyama Shinichi did not believe a single word of it.

This was by no means a sincere recognition of his abilities...

It was more like a rhetorical tactic!

A compromise she found within her proud heart—a way to try and fish for information without completely bowing her head. The subtext seemed to be saying:

I have already admitted I might have been wrong and given you face; surely you should tell me what you know now?

This kind of charity-like recognition only made Akiyama Shinichi feel even more ridiculous.

He remained silent, simply looking at Horikita Suzune, his gaze as if he were examining a flawed but decent-quality tool.

Horikita Suzune felt uncomfortable under his gaze, that feeling of being completely seen through resurfacing. She forced herself to maintain her composure and pressed on.

"Well?"

"Since we are in the same class, information shouldn't be hidden."

Akiyama Shinichi spoke again, his voice still flat and waveless.

"I have signed a contract with Class B; the relevant content cannot be disclosed to anyone in Class D within one month."

He was not lying; this was the truth.

The terms of the Buyout System restricted him.

Although he could completely ignore them, Akiyama Shinichi felt there was no need. Moreover, telling the people in Class D would only make them more complacent, thinking that having information would allow them to consolidate the class ahead of others. But the fact was that Class D, a scattered pile of sand, would not realize their own insignificance until they experienced a blow.

Akiyama Shinichi needed to use the gale of Class B's rise to stir the flames within Class D's hearts; only then would there be a possibility of them transforming into a true storm for the first years, even if there was currently no hope of Class D rising to Class A.

A flash of shock and surprise crossed Horikita Suzune's eyes. She had not expected that Akiyama Shinichi had already begun cooperating with other classes, but before she could question him, his tone shifted.

"However."

He stared into Horikita Suzune's eyes, which were filled with stubbornness and inquiry, and proposed a suggestion that caught her off guard.

"If you want to know more, or want to discover something through your own ability."

"You can follow me."

He paused, his tone carrying a faint, almost mentor-like nuance that was difficult to detect.

"Perhaps, by observing my actions, you can see things that you cannot perceive on your own. That is more valuable to you than receiving the answers directly."

The implication in these words could not be clearer.

I can help you grow.

Upon hearing this, Horikita Suzune was clearly stunned.

A flash of bewilderment instantly crossed her clear eyes, immediately replaced by strong resistance.

Follow him? Observe him? Who does he think he is?!

She admitted that Akiyama Shinichi might have some special qualities and perhaps was smarter than she had initially judged, but this by no means meant she recognized his strength as having reached a level where she needed to follow or learn from him.

Horikita Suzune had relied on herself from childhood to the present, moving forward through her own strength. When had she ever needed to rely on observing others to achieve growth?

To her, these words were filled with a condescending sense of superiority, as if he were a mentor who had mastered the truth, while she was a lost soul in need of guidance.

This made her feel extremely displeased.

She did not believe that anyone in reality would actually play the part of a novel protagonist, acting the pig to eat the tiger while secretly pulling the strings.

In her view.

Strength should be displayed openly and honestly! Not through mystification and pretense!

However...

An intense curiosity, along with a thirst for information, clawed at her heart like a cat's paws.

She knew that Akiyama Shinichi must possess most of the key information, yet the path to obtaining it directly seemed to be blocked by the contract.

Following him...

Seemed to be the only possible way to approach the truth for now...

Moreover, in all fairness, she truly had developed a complex perception of Akiyama Shinichi—one different from other boys, mixed with resistance, curiosity, and a hint of unwillingness to admit defeat.

Her inner pride warred fiercely with her desire to explore the unknown; she pressed her lips together, her eyes constantly sizing Akiyama Shinichi up.

In the end, her thirst for knowledge and that stubborn refusal to give up easily gained the slight upper hand.

"Fine..."

"I'll see..."

"Just what exactly you can let me observe."

She deliberately emphasized the word "observe," indicating that she was not in agreement, but merely adopting a strategy.

Akiyama Shinichi did not mind her reluctant attitude; to him, as long as the result met his expectations, the process was of no importance.

He nodded without another word, turned around, and continued walking forward.

Horikita Suzune looked at his back, took a deep breath to suppress the various discomforts in her heart, and stepped forward to follow behind him.

A cold and aloof pioneer!

A proud and haughty follower!

And this was merely the insignificant beginning of Akiyama Shinichi's long road of grooming Horikita Suzune!