"It seems there aren't any benefits..."
Kushida's tone was flat. Though she wore a strained smile, Xia Mu would swear—
At that moment, she must have wanted to kill him.
Just as he was about to apologize, a system notification rang out.
[Kikyo Kushida's Issue Correction Progress: 1%/100%] [Reward: +1 Skill Point]
He immediately swallowed the words he was about to say.
Whoa, it worked!
Xia Mu's brain whirred into action, and he launched into a brainstorm.
Could the root of Kushida's problem be that she wanted other people's attention?
If he changed that about her, he could finish correcting her issue, right?
So Xia Mu tentatively asked, "Kushida, it must be exhausting being friends with so many people, right?"
[Kikyo Kushida's Issue Correction Progress: 3%/100%] [Reward: +2 Skill Points]
Well, damn, it really worked.
He was about to keep going and rack up more Skill Points when—
"Xia Mu, could you please stop?" The smile had vanished from Kushida's face. "Hearing you say that makes me really sad."
At that moment, her expression was more terrifying than the ghost woman in a horror movie.
Xia Mu remained unfazed, still grinning. "Haha, Kushida, I was just saying it offhand."
"We're classmates, right? I'm just worried about you and don't want you to wear yourself out."
After he finished, he studied Kushida closely.
Sure enough, once she heard him, Kushida came back from that dark mood. She tilted her head adorably and pressed a finger to her chin. "Huh? Is that so? You're just worried about me, Xia Mu?"
"Yep."
Xia Mu nodded. "I know you really want everyone to like you, but you should take a break now and then, too."
"Actually, being the center of attention isn't all that great. Look, so many people keep asking you for help, right..."
After reassuring Kushida, he started walking the tightrope again.
But that remark didn't earn him a reward.
"It's okay!"
"I'm happy to be able to help my classmates!"
Even though Xia Mu had been pretty harsh, Kushida's smile had returned, bright as a spring breeze.
"Her recovery's way too fast!"
Xia Mu was amazed. This girl really could hold it in.
If it were him, he'd have gone on a rampage and charged straight in by now.
"Great. Then keep doing your best, Kushida."
Seeing he couldn't get any more Skill Points, Xia Mu simply waved goodbye. "I've got things to do, so I'll get going."
Kushida stared at him, completely dumbfounded.
This guy...
Was he okay?
He didn't make any sense, and he was just plain weird.
"Whatever. Why should I care about trash who can't even make a point?"
Kushida's expression gradually turned cold. She turned and limped toward the dorms.
Damn Xia Mu. He'd actually made her carry an injured athlete to the infirmary.
As Xia Mu walked toward the library, he pondered the situation.
It seemed Kushida's problem was that she wanted to be the most dazzling girl in the crowd. If anyone stole her spotlight, she'd strike without hesitation and take them out.
So he just had to make her realize there was nothing special about that—or at least get her to stop taking it to extremes.
Then he could finish correcting her issue and earn Skill Points.
But that was practically impossible.
That green-tea girl had long since made this her ultimate goal in life. Getting her to change would be pretty difficult.
"But I don't have to correct her completely. As long as she keeps giving me Skill Points, that's good enough. If it doesn't work, I'll just give up."
Xia Mu took it all in stride. He wasn't about to play the good guy.
He looked around the library, then headed over to where Shiina Hiyori was sitting.
She sat by the window, her rosy little hand propping up her chin while the other held a book. Light fell across her finely sculpted cheeks, making her seem to radiate a lovely, starry glow.
Man, if I could marry a woman like her, I'd gladly drive a Ferrari and live in a mansion.
Xia Mu marveled to himself as he set his bag on a chair, then sat down across from Shiina. "Good evening, Shiina."
Only then did Shiina notice Xia Mu and come out of her concentration. "Good evening, Xia Mu."
"I thought you weren't coming tonight." Shiina smiled gently, and it didn't seem forced. Her smile put people at ease.
Unlike Kushida's deliberately fake smile, which made anyone with even halfway decent instincts feel a little uncomfortable.
"Ah, something came up, so I'm late," Xia Mu explained, though his gaze had already wandered to Shiina's long, snow-white legs.
She wasn't wearing gray tights today, so she looked a little less alluring and a little more innocent.
Shiina, my little angel.
"What was it? Don't tell me you were on a date with a girl!" Shiina teased.
"Uh..." Xia Mu stiffened.
"Huh?"
"Wait, was it really true!?"
Disbelief flashed through Shiina's eyes. "But it's only been a few days since school started, Xia Mu..."
"Fine."
Shiina pursed her lips, a little annoyed. "No wonder you left me here all alone."
"No, no, absolutely not!"
Xia Mu rubbed his nose, sweat beading on his cheek. "I was—I was walking the dog, yeah!"
"Walking the dog?" Shiina narrowed her starry eyes and leaned forward, staring right into Xia Mu's eyes. "It's only been a few days since school started. You already got a dog?"
"Ah, no. It belongs to someone else. They brought it to school." Xia Mu was sweating buckets.
"But..." Shiina's face was practically touching his. "Usually, girls are the ones who keep cute dogs, right?"
"Well..." Xia Mu was drenched in sweat.
"Anyway, I'm just kidding."
Just then, Shiina smiled, looking pleased with her revenge. "You were teasing me yesterday, after all,
"But you're late, too."
"As punishment, you're not allowed to leave until you finish this book today!"
Shiina picked out the biggest book from a stack beside her. With a loud thump, she dropped it on the table and pushed it over to Xia Mu. "Here."
"You've got to be kidding."
"This thing must be four or five hundred pages!"
Xia Mu was dumbstruck, but when he saw the sly look on Shiina's face, he realized she was joking.
The title on the cover was Jane Eyre.
"It's my favorite book. I've read it over and over." Shiina tucked her hair behind her ear, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
"Oh, really?"
Xia Mu opened the book and started reading quietly.
If he remembered correctly, it was the story of an English girl who was orphaned as a child. She endured all kinds of hardships, constantly pursuing freedom and dignity and staying true to herself, until she finally found happiness.
It was a romance novel with a distinctly pure-love feel.
He hadn't expected someone as gentle as Shiina to have a heart like that.
Seeing Xia Mu gradually get absorbed in the book, Shiina lowered her head and returned to her own reading.
The only sound left in the air was the turning of pages.
Xia Mu didn't use a Skill Point to learn the book instantly, because that would defeat the purpose.
They were both absorbed in the atmosphere, until...
"Grrr~" Shiina's stomach growled.
She scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed. "I'm hungry..."
"Haah~"
Xia Mu yawned and rubbed his tired eyes. "Then let's go have dinner."
After they packed up, they ate their fill, then walked back to the dorms together.
The road was quiet and empty. There weren't many students around at this hour.
"Xia Mu, do you think a truly peaceful era will ever come to this world, where conflict never ends?"
Just before they parted, Shiina suddenly asked Xia Mu with complete seriousness.
Before you continue