Chapter 40

He was starting to get a little addicted to the feeling. Ichinose simply watched him with a smile, and after the two exchanged a brief glance, Yuan Yuyuan turned back to the others and continued, "I've seen all the effort you've put in. We're now just one step away from where we want to be. I'm confident that at the next Special Exam, I can help our class leap into Class A. When that time comes, I'll be counting on all of you." The Class B students had never heard anyone say something like that. After Yuan Yuyuan spoke, he instantly became, in their eyes, someone who quietly gave everything for the class without asking for anything in return. And he was even saying he was counting on them. They were genuinely moved to tears. Yuan Yuyuan was a little surprised. He hadn't expected such a simple platitude to leave all these young people teary-eyed. Still, it wasn't like he was making them an empty promise, so he felt no guilt. Taking advantage of the moment, he raised his teacup. "Come on, let me offer you all a toast with tea." "Cheers!" The Class B students at the other tables raised their cups to Yuan Yuyuan, too. Whether it was the information he'd given them on the first day of school or the answers he'd provided for the midterms, he had earned their respect.

First Semester: Chapter 38

Chapter 35: Xiaoxue, Are You Trying to Do an Impression of Lin Chiling?

The dinner was a cheerful affair. Everyone was laughing and chatting, while Yuan Yuyuan sat there with a glum look on his face. He did like tea, but back when he'd finished training, his old man had always liked to pour him strong liquor, claiming it was good for his health. In truth, it was because that was the only time his old man could get a drink himself. After being made to drink it for so long, Yuan Yuyuan had grown quite fond of it. He was craving a drink now. Normally, he didn't mind, but having only tea at a gathering like this felt like something was missing. Once they made it into Class A, they'd probably have another celebration. He'd have to invite that drunkard Hoshinomiya then; otherwise, there was no way he'd get his hands on the stuff as a minor.

Ichinose noticed that something was off with Yuan Yuyuan. Thinking he wasn't used to lively places like this, she left her followers and asked him with concern, "What are you thinking about, Yuyuan?"

Caught spacing out, Yuan Yuyuan replied without batting an eye, "Nothing. I was just thinking that we didn't invite Hoshinomiya-sensei. I feel like we're letting down the person who's nurtured us."

"Ah... I forgot about that, too. It's almost over now... But with you around, we can hold another party once we get into Class A. We'll invite Hoshinomiya-sensei then."

"That's true. She's still alive and well, after all."

"Pfft, Yuyuan! You can't say things like that in front of the person you're talking about."

Yuan Yuyuan was a little speechless. Did Ichinose think he was antisocial because he lacked social skills? This was called standing apart from the world—didn't she know that?

"Of course I wouldn't say that. Why does it feel like Honami thinks I'm an idiot?"

"Of course I don't! I was just reminding you, that's all. Hehe."

By now, the dinner was drawing to a close. Yuan Yuyuan gave another little speech, telling everyone not to slack off and that victory would surely be theirs. Then everyone parted on a happy note.

Except...

"You! I was sitting right next to you, and you didn't even pay attention to me! All you did was eat, space out, and talk to Ichinose, huh? Do you have any idea how few friends I have in Class B since I started hanging around with you?!"

"Whoa, whoa, stop pinching me! Lady Himeno, I know I'm wrong. Honami just interrupted me while I was spacing out. If you wanted to talk to me, you could've just said so."

"Who wants to talk to you?! I was just bored, okay? Do you even know what bored means?!"

Yuan Yuyuan rubbed his ear, which had been pinched red, and muttered, "Tch, tsunderes are out of fashion. What kind of Wild Mode player are you?"

Himeno Yuki raised her lovely eyebrows and gave him a gentle smile, unlike anything he'd ever seen from her.

"What are you mumbling about, Yuyuan? Speak up so I can hear you."

Yuan Yuyuan felt like he was about to meet his end. Stubbornly, he left behind his final words in this world.

"N-Nothing... I was just reflecting on my mistakes. I really am the worst!"

"Are those your last words? Then rest in peace!"

"No! I still want to see more of this beautiful world!"

Yuan Yuyuan took off running, with Himeno Yuki chasing after him.

Before long, Himeno Yuki stopped and stood there, panting. "Huff, huff... Stop! I can't run anymore. Come over here and let me hit you once, and I'll forgive you."

Yuan Yuyuan frowned at her terrible acting. He'd clearly been matching her pace—who got tired after running for just a little while? But there was nothing he could do, so he went over and let Himeno Yuki vent...

"Just once, okay?"

Himeno Yuki smiled triumphantly and reached for Yuan Yuyuan.

"This time, I've got you—"

What she hadn't expected was that Yuan Yuyuan, who'd walked over looking thoroughly disgruntled, ran away again the moment she reached out.

That made Himeno Yuki see red. She pointed at the promise-breaking Yuan Yuyuan and shouted, "Yuan Yuyuan, you liar! Get back here!"

"Xiaoxue, your acting is way too terrible. You definitely haven't been paying attention in Kushida's Training Class like I told you to, have you? That's not how a good girl behaves."

"Mind your own business! Get back here!"

"All right, all right, I'm coming. Xiaoxue, you're not really mad, are you?"

After Yuan Yuyuan came back to Himeno Yuki, she didn't actually hit him. Instead, she rubbed his face between her hands.

"You blockhead! You never know when to let me win. No wonder you've been single your whole life."

"Girls..."

Yuan Yuyuan removed Himeno Yuki's hands from his face.

"You've got some nerve saying that to me. You're clearly... Huh?"

Yuan Yuyuan spotted a loophole in her words. He leaned close to Himeno Yuki and raised his eyebrows. "Does Xiaoxue mean that if I let you win, I'll find love?"

"Tch, don't flatter yourself. I mean that someone with no gentlemanly manners like you deserves to be single forever. Bleh!"

"Eat whatever you want, but don't say whatever you want. You'd better take responsibility for what you just said. But I'm not that cruel, so Xiaoxue only has to take responsibility for me."

"Get lost! Who's taking responsibility for you?"

After fooling around for a while, Himeno Yuki really was tired this time, so the two of them found a bench and sat down.

"You're such a hypocrite. The least you could do is be a little nicer to me, you know? It's so unfair."

Yuan Yuyuan looked at Himeno Yuki resting her head on his shoulder and quietly wondered what was up with her today... But Himeno was different from Kushida, after all, so he agreed.

"Xiaoxue, you're so jealous. But I suppose I can do that."

"Who's jealous? I'm just... You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Himeno Yuki glanced around and realized she'd never been here before. Nervously, she grabbed Yuan Yuyuan's arm.

"By the way, where are we? We're not lost, are we?"

"You wouldn't have had to run so far if you hadn't chased me. Besides, there's a map on the school-issued phone, dummy."

"Oh, right. Hey, weren't you supposed to be nicer to me? You..."

Himeno Yuki couldn't think of a new insult, so she weakly added, "You single-for-life jerk!"

"...So what if I'm single? Anyway, let's head back."

"But my feet are sore. It's all your fault! You should've just stood there and let me hit you."

"Can you be reasonable? You wouldn't have to hit me if you just didn't hit me."

"I don't care!"

Himeno Yuki spread her arms and rocked back and forth on the bench.