New Uses for the System, Shiina Hiyori

Everyone's gaze converged on the spot.

A girl with a single ponytail and a jacket tied around her waist shouted with a stern expression, "What do you guys think you're doing?"

"Doesn't the school code explicitly forbid using violence against fellow students?"

The person who had arrived was Karuizawa Kei.

After discovering that the three of them were tailing Xia Mu, a flood of extremely unpleasant memories had echoed through her mind.

To ensure Xia Mu wouldn't become the next version of herself, she had followed them here.

"You woman, why are you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?" Sudo Ken raised his fist. "I'll teach you a lesson first!"

Seeing the raised fist, Karuizawa Kei's legs went weak, and countless images flashed through her mind.

Yet, she refused to back down and raised her phone. "I've already recorded this. If you dare to lay a hand on me, I'll hand the footage over to Chabashira-sensei!"

Upon hearing the word "recording," Yamauchi and Kanji instantly lost their nerve.

"Tch, what a buzzkill!"

Sudo Ken spat on the ground and left in dissatisfaction. "Kid, don't think I'm letting you off the hook. You'd better watch your back. The moment I get another chance, I'm definitely going to give you a proper beating."

Kanji and Yamauchi also threw out some harsh threats before leaving.

"Whew..." Seeing the group depart, Karuizawa Kei finally let out a sigh of relief, her body swaying as she steadied herself against the wall.

If they had stayed any longer, she really would have collapsed to the ground.

Seeing Xia Mu walking toward her with a blank expression, Karuizawa Kei assumed he was terrified and put her hands on her hips, looking incredibly proud. "No need to thank me. I just can't stand school bullying."

"Heh..."

The corner of Xia Mu's mouth twitched, his face filled with speechlessness. "I really 'thank you' so much!"

With that, he slung his jacket over his shoulder and walked out of the alley.

"Hey, what kind of attitude is that? I saved you, you know! Is this how you treat me??"

Karuizawa Kei stomped her foot in dissatisfaction, not expecting that after kindly helping him, his attitude would be so terrible. "If you get bullied by them again, I'm not going to help you."

"That would be for the best." Xia Mu waved his hand, his figure gradually disappearing from Karuizawa Kei's line of sight.

"Seriously, what a jerk..." Karuizawa Kei pursed her lips.

However, she understood; people who are bullied often become sensitive and insecure, not wanting others to see them looking weak and helpless.

Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly noticed a spot on the ground where the concrete had been indented by several centimeters.

That was... the shape of a footprint!?

Who could have that much strength?

In the afternoon, Xia Mu met up with the fatty as usual.

But he lacked the excitement he'd had when he first arrived at school yesterday; instead, he seemed somewhat sullen.

When Xia Mu asked, he wouldn't say anything.

He didn't act like he had yesterday, pervertedly greeting every female student they passed.

It wasn't until they reached the arcade that he gradually started to get excited, playing fighting games against Xia Mu.

Xia Mu realized something was off, but since the fatty didn't bring it up, he didn't press the issue.

It was time to let him grow up a little.

After parting ways with Zhu Xincheng, Xia Mu headed to the library.

He had a few new ideas in his mind that he wanted to test out.

The school library was massive. The left side featured a glass wall facing the rising morning sun, the first floor was a desk area, and the second-floor loft on the right was the book storage area.

Li Mu went to fetch the Japanese and English textbooks needed for his usual classes, then came downstairs and sat at a random spot by the window.

Immediately, he opened the books and scanned through them roughly from beginning to end.

Afterward, he looked up and focused on the system.

[Skill Acquired: First-Year Japanese (Not yet initiated)]

"As expected, things learned from books count as skills too, huh?"

He had wondered at the time that if watching videos could teach him things, then reading books should be the same.

It seemed that was indeed the case.

With a thought, Xia Mu applied his skill points to Japanese.

[Consumed 1 skill point. First-Year Japanese skill mastered.]

"It only takes one skill point to max it out?"

Xia Mu was a bit surprised, but when he thought about it, it made sense.

If one focused entirely on memorizing a book, a year would be more than enough time.

He did not continue to add points, because for this kind of knowledge-based material, there was no need to break through to a magically modified version.

It wasn't as if he were going to become a big shot in the academic world specializing in research.

Closing his eyes, he flipped through the memories in his mind; any knowledge point contained within this book could be retrieved by Xia Mu at will.

"It looks like the next three years will be very easy." Xia Mu then turned his gaze toward the remaining textbooks.

There were seven subjects in total, and he only needed to spend six more skill points to fully master everything taught in the first academic year.

Since he still had plenty of skill points, he might as well learn them all.

And so, a strange scene unfolded in the library.

While other students were quietly reading, taking several minutes to get through a single page, Xia Mu was frantically flipping through books with a rustling sound.

[First-year English skill has been mastered]

[First-year History skill has been mastered]

[First-year Chemistry skill has been mastered]

"Clap." Setting down the last textbook, Xia Mu took a deep breath.

Having so many memories suddenly added to his mind left his brain feeling a bit sore.

"Hey, classmate, you have to calm your heart and read slowly."

"If you're this impatient, you'll end up gaining nothing at all."

An ethereal and pleasant voice appeared behind Xia Mu. A white figure leaned in, bending over slightly to look at him with a polite smile on her face.

She was wearing a school uniform, and the ends of her white hair were dyed apricot-red, tied with two black ribbons.

As she leaned forward, her long hair swayed, and a faint scent of jasmine radiated from her body.

However, Xia Mu's gaze was fixed on her delicate calves.

While others wore black or white stockings, she was different; she wore gray ones.

But precisely because of that, it was even more eye-catching.

"No, I've already finished learning them, which is why I put them down." Xia Mu stepped back slightly and explained.

"Oh?"

Shiina's bright eyes shimmered with curiosity as she leaned in another step. "You can remember everything just by flipping through them?"

Xia Mu moved back a bit more. "That's right."

Shiina blinked repeatedly. "Classmate, why do you keep backing away?"

"Then why do you keep leaning forward? I have gynophobia." Xia Mu countered.

"Hmm..."

Shiina bit her index finger lightly, not intending to argue about this topic with Xia Mu.

She grabbed the history book from the table and shook it in her hand. "Then, shall I test you?"

It was obvious she didn't believe Xia Mu's nonsense.

"Not interested."

Xia Mu shook his head, intending to pack up his books and leave.

"No way!"

Shiina grabbed Xia Mu's wrist, looking serious. "You said you finished learning it, but I don't believe you."

"Unless you let me test you, I absolutely won't let you go."

When it came to books, she truly loved them to an extraordinary degree.

Xia Mu looked up at Shiina, who was shining with persistence and sincerity, and sighed helplessly. "Fine, then go ahead and test me."

"Good."

Shiina let go of Xia Mu's hand and flipped to a random page. "Page 145, what is it about?"

She chose a page from the middle, as normal people usually tend to forget information in the middle of a book.

"It's about the Taika Reform." To her surprise, Xia Mu answered correctly.

It must be a coincidence, right?

Shiina was somewhat skeptical and flipped through several more pages, but every time, Xia Mu was able to answer the instant she asked the question.

He could even recite the content of the book backward, as if he had studied it thoroughly; it didn't seem fake at all.

"That's amazing!!"

Shiina seemed quite surprised. "You actually remembered it all!"

So, Xia Mu hadn't been joking earlier.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were doing that because you didn't want to read anymore." She apologized sincerely.

"It's fine. Can I go now?" Xia Mu pointed toward the door. "I'm hungry and need to go eat dinner."

"Ah..."

Shiina Hiyori seemed a bit reluctant, as there were still many questions she hadn't asked Xia Mu yet.

"I'll treat you! After all, I did take up your time." Shiina clasped her hands behind her back and gave a radiant smile.

Her tone was always very soft, like a gentle whisper in one's ear, possessing a charm that was impossible to resist.

"Alright then."

Xia Mu agreed. "I'll do it for the sake of you being a beauty."

"Eh?"

Faced with Xia Mu's sudden compliment, Shiina's face flushed slightly, and she shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you..."

She put the book back on the shelf.

Afterward, the two walked side by side out of the library and headed toward the Gourmet City in the commercial district.

"My name is Shiina Hiyori. You can just call me Shiina."

"Xia Mu."

"Xia Mu-kun, I know a place that serves Mapo Tofu that is especially delicious. I'll take you there!"

"It's Huaxia cuisine!"

Shiina Hiyori excitedly led Xia Mu into a crowded shop and found a seat.

Xia Mu placed his schoolbag on the soft chair. "I know. I'm actually from Huaxia."

"Ah?"

"Wow, are all students from Huaxia as amazing as you?"

"Mm, I definitely have to travel to Huaxia when I have time in the future!"

Shiina had high emotional intelligence and knew exactly how to flatter someone to make them feel good.

The first impression she gave Xia Mu was that of a gentle and cute girl.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Shiina took a book out of her bag and handed it to Xia Mu. "Xia Mu-kun, you memorize information so quickly. Could you show me how you do it?"

Xia Mu originally wanted to find an excuse to brush her off, but seeing Shiina's earnest expression, he couldn't help but feel a desire to tease her. "Sure."

He took the book, laid it flat on the table, and suddenly turned serious. "Watch closely, I'm only going to teach this once."

"Mm-hmm!"

Shiina nodded heavily, staring with complete focus.

"Hah!"

Xia Mu's expression was unprecedentedly solemn. He gestured in the air with his hands, muttering under his breath, "Knowledge, come into my mind. Knowledge, come into my mind."

Then, his hands moved as if scooping water, 'scooping' the knowledge out of the book as if holding some holy relic, before slapping it onto his forehead.

"Whew!"

Xia Mu let out a long breath, performing the motions of finishing a cultivation technique. "Done! I've memorized it all!"

"Ah, this, that fast?"

"You didn't even open the book! Is that for real?"

Shiina wore an expression that suggested she was wondering if he took her for a fool.

"If you don't believe me, test me." Xia Mu was very confident.

"Ah, I, I believe you..." Shiina swallowed hard. "I've heard that in Huaxia, there is a kind of, um..."

"A ritual similar to summoning immortals that can grant one many magical abilities."

Xia Mu nodded slightly and pushed the book back across the table to Shiina. "Do you want to try?"

"Me?"

"Can I do it too?" Shiina clenched her hands, looking a bit nervous.

"You can. I'll help you from the shadows." Xia Mu nodded, coaxing her. "Come on, Shiina, give it a try..."