After that battle, Yi Chen realized that he was still far too weak.
Yi Chen checked his personal stats.
[ Intelligence: C+/Strength: C/Judgment: C/Athletic Ability: C/Teamwork: D]
Yi Chen:
"Angel, do the things I learned in my previous life and some combat techniques count toward these stats?"
Angel:
"The stats above are the ones the heavens assigned when you enrolled. The things you learned in your previous life are not included."
Yi Chen:
"Then can I see my actual stats right now?"
Angel:
"Refreshing."
[ Intelligence: A/Strength: B/Judgment: B/Athletic Ability: C/Teamwork: D]
"Your actual abilities are as shown here, but the school only has the stats above."
Yi Chen:
"School stats... Right, there are so many cameras around this school. It's easy to evaluate a student."
Yi Chen took another look. His Intelligence was fine.
As expected, his Teamwork was lacking for an introvert and a homebody.
But his physical fitness could improve significantly. If he wanted to make it through this world, his Strength had to reach A.
Once he'd decided, Yi Chen bought some compact training equipment from the store and worked out in his dorm room.
When he returned to his room, Ken Sudō and the others came to ask him more questions about studying.
Sudō draped an arm around Yi Chen.
"Never thought you'd be such a good student, even though you look like a troublemaker. You really are my buddy."
Yi Chen smiled.
"I'd studied this stuff before. Just got lucky."
They started out studying, but it didn't take long.
Ken Sudō began to relax.
He brought out some soda and invited everyone to have a drink together.
Yi Chen figured drinking too much soda at night wasn't a good idea, so he reluctantly turned them down.
Although he'd died so suddenly, Yi Chen, an avid anime fan, wasn't just here to clear the game and get revenge.
More than that, he was here because he loved this world. Yi Chen truly wanted to lead Class D to Class A. It was an anime fan's dream.
Anime had once helped him, a gloomy and dispirited person, fall in love with life through all those passionate stories.
Sports anime had made him fall in love with sports.
And so on...
Everyone had their own way of living. As long as the outcome was right, we should take the time to enjoy the journey.
Ken Sudō noticed Yi Chen seemed troubled.
"Hey, Yi Chen, what's wrong? You look like something's on your mind."
Yi Chen:
"I, actually... Um, how do I put it... I got hit, I think."
Ken Sudō and the others suddenly shouted.
"What! Someone hit our buddy? Come on, tell us who it was. We'll go teach him a lesson right now!"
Yi Chen:
"...We can't beat him. He's the Student Council President."
Yamauchi Haruki and Yukimura Teruhiko fell silent at once.
Ken Sudō still looked furious.
"That lousy Student Council President! What gives him the right to hit people? Just give me a chance to catch him alone, and I'll take care of him for you."
Yamauchi Haruki and Yukimura Teruhiko murmured:
"Ken, the Student Council President isn't an ordinary person. We'd get expelled for hitting him, and he might even make trouble for the people around us."
Ken Sudō looked helpless after hearing that.
"Don't worry, Yi Chen. We'll wait until he graduates, then go beat him up."
Yi Chen:
"Thanks, Ken. I appreciate the thought, but I'll figure something out myself."
Yamauchi Haruki and Yukimura Teruhiko:
"By the way, Yi Chen, why did he hit you?"
Yi Chen:
"I don't know. I went downstairs to buy a drink, and he hit me."
Yamauchi Haruki and Yukimura Teruhiko...
Ken Sudō said indignantly:
"What! He hit you for no reason? That's infuriating. We have to beat him up!"
Ken Sudō rolled up his sleeves.
Yamauchi Haruki and Yukimura Teruhiko wilted.
"Did you get hurt anywhere?"
Yi Chen:
"My clothes got a little dirty."
Hearing that, Ken Sudō laughed.
"Hahaha, that's our Yi Chen. And yeah, that Student Council President looks frail. Even if he hits someone, I bet it feels like nothing."
Yi Chen:
"He's pretty strong. We should avoid making an enemy of him for now."
Ken Sudō:
"Sure, sure. It's getting late. You really don't want any? If not, we'll head back to my room."
Yi Chen:
"Thanks, but no."
Ken Sudō got up and started gathering his things.
"Okay. If you ever need anything, just ask. I've got your back."
Yi Chen:
"Sure. See you tomorrow."
Yi Chen felt it deeply:
"So this is friendship? I used to stay home all the time. When I went out, I really wanted to talk to people, but I was too shy."
"People took that as me being aloof. I never got to experience a genuine friendship."
"I never expected Ken Sudō, the guy with such bad grades, to be so good to me."
Yi Chen thought for a moment.
"I remember Ken Sudō still failed in the end. He'd have to spend points to pass, right? Whatever. I'll make sure he passes."
The next day, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka brought Kushida Kikyo to buy the answers.
Yi Chen happened to be there for a meal and saw them, so he quietly sat down far away.
Little did he know that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already noticed him.
Yi Chen watched them talk. In the end, they seemed to reach an agreement, and everyone went their separate ways.
Yi Chen figured the deal had gone through, so he headed to the gym to work out. It was full of muscular guys.
Yi Chen:
"No matter where you are, your own strength is what matters most. I have to give it my all and live seriously."
After working out at the gym for several hours, Yi Chen was drenched in sweat but full of energy.
As soon as he left the gym, he saw Ken Sudō looking for him.
"Yi Chen, so this is where you are."
Ken Sudō said breathlessly:
"Someone told me they saw you here. I've got something I want your help with."
Yi Chen smiled.
"What is it? If I can do it, I'll help."
Ken Sudō scratched his head.
"It's about studying. I know you're good at it. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a hard time passing the exam."
"I was hoping you could teach me, or give me some tips for answering questions."
Yi Chen was moved. This was Ken Sudō showing initiative and trying to improve.
"Of course."
Looking at the enthusiastic Ken Sudō in front of him, Yi Chen couldn't help thinking:
"This is really different from the story. Before, that tsundere, Horikita Suzune, was the one teaching him. He wasn't exactly happy about studying with her."
"Now I'm teaching him, and he came to ask me himself. Is this the butterfly effect?"
Over the next few days, Yi Chen worked out at the gym for more than ten days. His handsome looks got him the contact information of quite a few girls.
Ibuki Mio from Class C was one of them.
Whenever they had free time, Yi Chen taught Ken Sudō how to study. The other two started studying with them as well, since Ken Sudō brought them along.
But those two were only pretending to study. Yi Chen didn't mind.
The morning before the midterm exam, in the classroom.
Kushida brought the answers to share with everyone. The students were all deeply grateful.
Only one person refused them and left to go on a date:
Koenji Rokusuke.
Looking at him, Yi Chen thought:
"I can't believe I forgot about this major character. Koenji Rokusuke, also known as Handsome Brother."
"His strength is off the charts. I remember he's dangerous too. Looks like there are still plenty of people stronger than me."
"I'm not even sure I could beat one of Ryuen's lackeys right now."
The day of the exam soon arrived.
With the answers to help them, the students found the exam easy. One after another, they came out and thanked Kushida.
Yi Chen deliberately left the large questions blank, aiming for a score of exactly 85.
That afternoon, the entire class sat at their desks and waited for Chabashira-sensei.
Chabashira announced the results with an icy expression.
"To be honest, I'm surprised. Even you managed to get such high scores."
"But unfortunately..."
Yi Chen stared intently at the score sheet behind her.
Chabashira said:
"You failed, Yamauchi Haruki. Your English score was 40."
Yamauchi Haruki clenched his teeth and slammed his fist on the desk.
"How is this possible! How could I have failed?"
Chabashira:
"The class average was 83. Half of that is 41.5, the passing score."
Yamauchi Haruki stared blankly in despair.
"41.5... No! I don't want to be expelled!"
Yamauchi Haruki's face twisted.
"No, Chabashira-sensei, give me one more chance. I don't want to be expelled!"
Chabashira looked at Yamauchi Haruki as if he were trash.
"The rules are the rules. Yamauchi Haruki, wait for me in the staff room after school."
Chabashira left the classroom, and the class immediately erupted into an uproar.
Complaints, sympathy, and relief filled the room.
Yi Chen looked at Yamauchi Haruki.
"Is this the butterfly effect? Ken Sudō isn't the one getting expelled because of my involvement."
"I remember this guy betrays the class later and gets kicked out anyway. I don't want to waste points saving him."
"Ah, forget it. I still haven't received my mission reward. I have to complete the mission and get stronger, even if it means saving someone like him."
Yi Chen took a deep breath and followed Chabashira-sensei.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka watched Yi Chen with a slight change in his expression, then quietly followed.
Horikita Suzune saw them and followed too.
Yi Chen followed Chabashira to the rooftop.
As she smoked, Chabashira said wearily:
"Is something wrong? Class is about to start."
Yi Chen simply took out his phone and showed her how many points he had left.
60678
Yi Chen said calmly:
"Teacher, I want to buy Yamauchi Muraki's point."
Behind the rooftop door, Ayanokoji listened in silence, his expression shifting subtly.
Chabashira was slightly surprised by Yi Chen's statement.
"Interesting, but you might not have enough points to buy that point."
Yi Chen asked calmly,
"How much?"
Chabashira said,
"One hundred thousand."
At that moment, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka came over to the two of them and opened his point balance.
61000
Chabashira looked at them quietly.
"Interesting. There's no helping it now. I already said one hundred thousand, so I'll sell it to you."
"Class D has never moved up a class before. Looks like things are about to change."
Horikita Suzune, who had been eavesdropping by the rooftop door the whole time, couldn't help but feel shocked.
Chabashira said,
"You two, go tell him he won't be expelled."
Yi Chen and Ayanokoji looked at each other, but neither said anything.
Before you continue