The morning sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains. Tang Yu opened his eyes, and the System Interface immediately unfolded in his field of vision.
[Emotion Points: 850/10000] [Today's Collection Limit: 2000 points]
He stretched, feeling the power coursing through his body. After spending 200 points to improve his Agility yesterday, he really had become more nimble. Tang Yu did a few simple stretches, each movement smoother than before.
"System, display my current attributes."
[Strength: 6 (Average person)] [Agility: 8 (Athlete level)] [Intelligence: 10 (Human limit)] [Charm: 8 (Eye-catching)]
Tang Yu nodded with satisfaction. Today was PE class, a perfect chance to test out his improved Agility.
After washing up, he changed into his gym clothes and tidied his hair in front of the mirror. The boy reflected there had black hair and eyes, well-defined features, and a faint, enigmatic smile that seemed to linger at the corners of his mouth.
"Today's goal is to collect at least 1,000 Emotion Points. Especially from that Ken Sudō..." Tang Yu muttered to himself in front of the mirror.
He remembered that Ken Sudō, Class D's basketball ace in the original story, had a volatile personality and a strong ego. He was one of the easiest targets to provoke into intense emotional swings.
Quite a few students were already moving around campus. Tang Yu deliberately slowed his pace, using his newly unlocked Emotion Perception ability to observe the emotional states of those around him.
Most students had pale blue Emotion Clouds floating above their heads—calm or bored. Now and then, a few were pink, probably thinking about someone they liked. Only a handful were dark red with anger or deep green with envy.
[Emotion Perception proficiency +5%]
The system notification brought a slight smile to Tang Yu's face. He would need to keep practicing before he could fully master this ability.
"Hey, Tang!"
A lively girl's voice came from behind him. Tang Yu turned to see Kushida Kikyo jogging up to him, her golden hair gleaming in the morning light.
"Good morning, Kushida." Tang Yu greeted her politely, while noticing that the Emotion Cloud above her head was an unnatural pink with a trace of gray inside it—wariness hidden beneath her warmth.
[False admiration from Kushida Kikyo +30]
Tang Yu sneered inwardly but put on a modest expression. "You're too kind. I just happened to know how to solve that problem."
"Today's PE class has a 50-meter sprint test. Are you good at running?" Kushida asked casually, though it was obvious she was fishing for information.
"I'm average, I guess," Tang Yu replied vaguely. "What about you?"
"I'm terrible at sports." Kushida stuck out her tongue. The gesture should have looked cute, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception revealed how affected it was, as if she were carefully cultivating an image.
They chatted as they made their way to the track, where the other students had already begun gathering. Tang Yu spotted Horikita Suzune standing alone in a corner, while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka blended into the crowd, looking utterly unremarkable.
The PE Teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, blew his whistle. "Today we're testing the 50-meter sprint and standing long jump. The results will count toward your midterm grade. Line up by student number and compete in pairs."
Tang Yu's student number was near the end, giving him a chance to observe the others first. Naturally, Ken Sudō was the fastest in the class, clocking an impressive 6.3 seconds.
Horikita Suzune also did well, with 7.1 seconds. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka deliberately ran a middling 7.8 seconds, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception picked up on the unusual control in his stride. The guy was definitely hiding his true ability.
"Next pair: Tang Yu and Koenji Rokusuke."
A murmur went through the class. Koenji was the class's famous oddball, with long blond hair who called himself "a genius beyond ordinary mortals" and never did anything by the book.
"What a boring test." Koenji yawned. "But since you're my opponent, Transfer Student, I suppose I'll deign to run."
Tang Yu stepped onto the track and loosened his ankles. He decided to show a little ability, but not enough to attract too much attention. Around seven seconds should do.
"On your marks—"
Tang Yu bent into his starting position. Suddenly, a system notification rang out:
[Temporary Mission: Make a splash in PE class] [Reward: Unlock a new ability based on the Emotion Points collected]
Tang Yu narrowed his eyes. He would have to change his plan.
"Get set—bang!"
The starting pistol fired, and Tang Yu shot off the line like an arrow loosed from a bow. His muscles worked together perfectly, and even the air resistance seemed to lessen. His Agility of 8 was on full display.
Five seconds later, Tang Yu crossed the finish line. The whole track fell silent.
"5.91 seconds..." Sakagami-sensei stared at the stopwatch in disbelief. "That's already at the level of a national second-class athlete."
Koenji came jogging over at a leisurely pace, finishing in 7.5 seconds. He didn't seem to care at all; instead, he gave Tang Yu a meaningful smile. "Interesting."
[Shock from the whole class +300] [Envy from Ken Sudō +100] [Competitive spirit from Horikita Suzune +80] [Wariness from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +120]
Tang Yu suppressed a laugh as his Emotion Points surged. Ken Sudō's flushed face and almost palpable envy were an absolute windfall.
"Impossible!" Ken Sudō rushed over. "There must be something wrong with the timer!"
Sakagami-sensei frowned. "Sudō, watch your language."
"Then let's run again!" Ken Sudō glared at Tang Yu. "You and me."
Tang Yu shrugged. "I'm fine with that."
[Anger from Ken Sudō +50]
In the second race, Tang Yu deliberately held back and narrowly beat Sudō's 6.3 seconds with a time of 6.2. That proved what he could do while still letting Sudō save some face. After all, he would need to keep collecting Emotion Points from him in the future.
"Damn it!" Ken Sudō pounded the ground. "We'll settle this in basketball class next time!"
[Frustration from Ken Sudō +70]
Tang Yu did well in the standing long jump, too, leaping 2.8 meters—just behind Ken Sudō's 2.9. His strong performance in two consecutive events had completely changed his classmates' impression that he was "only good at studying."
"Tang, I didn't know you were good at sports, too." During lunch break, Hirata Yosuke—the public face of Class D—approached him. "Want to join the Track and Field Club?"
"I'll think about it," Tang Yu said, politely declining. He noticed that the Emotion Cloud above Hirata's head was a sincere sky blue. The good-natured boy really did have the class's best interests at heart.
Tang Yu went up to the roof to eat lunch by himself. He had barely sat down when he sensed someone approaching. That distinctive emotional fluctuation—calm on the surface, currents stirring beneath—could only belong to one person.
"Mind if I sit here?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's voice came from behind him.
"Go ahead," Tang Yu said without turning around.
Ayanokoji sat across from Tang Yu and opened his lunchbox. They ate in silence for a while, the atmosphere subtly tense.
"Your running form is very polished," Ayanokoji suddenly said. "Have you trained?"
Tang Yu took a bite of his rice ball. "I was on the track team when I was younger." It was true: before he had crossed over, he had joined his middle school's track team, though his results had been unremarkable.
Ayanokoji nodded, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception clearly showed that he didn't believe the explanation.
"Are you interested in me?" Tang Yu asked outright.
Ayanokoji's chopsticks paused. "A genius transfer student arrives in Class D. Anyone would be curious."
"Even an 'ordinary student' like you?" Tang Yu deliberately stressed the word "ordinary."
Their gazes met. Tang Yu's Emotion Perception clearly detected a flicker deep inside Ayanokoji—a complicated mix of wariness and excitement at discovering someone like himself.
[Strong interest from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +150]
"This school is interesting," Ayanokoji said, changing the subject. "On the surface, they assign classes by grades, but the real criteria are much more complicated."
Tang Yu knew he was probing how much he understood about the school's system. "Right. For example, I placed in the top three on the entrance exam but still ended up in Class D."
"Do you know why?"
"Lack of teamwork?" Tang Yu replied, deliberately quoting Chabashira-sensei.
Ayanokoji shook his head slightly. "I think the school saw something in you."
"What kind of something?"
"The same kind of something it saw in us." After delivering that meaningful remark, Ayanokoji stood up and left. "See you this afternoon, Tang."
Tang Yu watched Ayanokoji's retreating figure, his brows knitting slightly. Their exchange had seemed like a draw, but he had the feeling that Ayanokoji had seen through something.
[Temporary Mission Complete] [Reward obtained: Ability Preview—"Emotion Influence" (can slightly influence the emotional states of others)] [Unlock condition: Emotion Points reach 5000]
The new ability caught Tang Yu's attention. If he could actively influence other people's emotions, he would not only find it easier to collect Emotion Points but also gain the upper hand in social interactions.
At the afternoon class meeting, Chabashira-sensei announced an important piece of news. "Midterm exams will be held next week, and your results will affect your Class Points. There will also be a special test at the end of the month. The details will be announced closer to the date."
A chorus of groans immediately rose from the classroom. Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune's expression grow serious, while Ayanokoji still looked as if none of it concerned him.
"Tang, after the meeting, we'll settle our bet based on the Midterm Exam results," Horikita said, approaching him.
Tang Yu raised an eyebrow. "You're in a hurry to admit defeat?"
[Annoyance from Horikita Suzune +60]
"Don't get cocky," Horikita said coldly. "I just don't like dragging things out."
"Fine," Tang Yu readily agreed. "But if I win, you'll have to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"I haven't decided yet." Tang Yu gave her a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything illegal."
Horikita studied him for a few seconds, seemingly assessing whether he could be trusted. "Deal. But if you lose, you'll tell me your real secret to studying."
"It's a promise."
[Competitive spirit from Horikita Suzune +90]
On his way home, Tang Yu took stock of what he had gained that day. His Emotion Points had reached 3,200. A few more days of effort, and he would unlock Emotion Influence.
More importantly, he had successfully attracted Ayanokoji's attention, which was crucial to his plans for the future.
As he rounded a corner, Tang Yu suddenly sensed a surge of malice. He quickly sidestepped, and a small pebble whizzed past his cheek.
"Quick reflexes, Transfer Student." Three boys wearing other classes' uniforms emerged from the shadows. The one in front had spiky hair and an unfriendly look.
"What do you want?" Tang Yu asked calmly, activating Emotion Perception at the same time. Dark red Emotion Clouds hovered over all three of them, filled with aggressive anger and envy.
"We hear you've been acting pretty cocky, making a big splash as soon as you got here." The spiky-haired boy stepped closer. "Some seniors from Class C want to teach you some manners."
Tang Yu sighed inwardly. School bullying? What a tired old trick. Still... it was a good chance to collect Emotion Points.
[Side Mission Triggered: Resolve the conflict and collect Emotion Points] [Reward: Ability points based on performance]
"I suggest you leave now," Tang Yu said calmly, studying the surroundings at the same time. An alley, no cameras, hardly anyone passing by. Perfect.
"Hahaha, did you hear that? He's threatening us!" The spiky-haired boy laughed and suddenly threw a punch at Tang Yu's stomach.
With his Agility of 8, Tang Yu dodged with ease. He stepped to the side of the spiky-haired boy and gave him a gentle shove, sending him off balance and into the wall.
"You bastard!" The other two charged at him at the same time.
For the next ten seconds, Tang Yu moved among the three of them as if he were dancing. He used only the smallest movements necessary to dodge their attacks, occasionally nudging or pulling them so they collided with one another. He never struck back in earnest, yet the three of them ended up in a sorry state.
[Anger from the three boys +150] [Confusion from the three boys +100] [Fear from the three boys +200]
"What the hell?!" The spiky-haired boy gasped for breath. "Why can't I hit him?!"
"I told you, you should leave." Tang Yu was still standing where he started, his uniform not even rumpled.
The three exchanged glances and finally backed down. "You got lucky!" they threw over their shoulders in a tired old line before scurrying away.
[Side Mission Complete] [Reward: Strength +0.5 (current 6.5/10)]
Tang Yu straightened his collar and was about to leave when he sensed a familiar emotional fluctuation. He turned toward the mouth of the alley. "Enjoying the show, Ayanokoji?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka emerged from the shadows, his expression as indifferent as ever. "I was just passing by."
"And you happened to stand there watching for three minutes?" Tang Yu chuckled.
"Your fighting style is unusual," Ayanokoji said bluntly. "That's not something they teach in a regular school PE class."
Tang Yu's heart tightened. He had used footwork he'd learned in a martial arts class before crossing over, and he hadn't expected Ayanokoji to spot it at a glance.
"Likewise," Tang Yu shot back. "The way you observe people isn't like that of an ordinary high school student, either."
The two fell into that peculiar silent standoff once more. At last, Ayanokoji gave a slight nod. "Be careful around the people from Class C. They won't let this go. Ryuen Kakeru holds a grudge."
"Thanks for the warning." Tang Yu watched Ayanokoji leave, alarm bells ringing in his mind. Ayanokoji had clearly grown very interested in him. That was both an opportunity and a risk.
When he got home, Tang Yu opened the System Panel and carefully studied his newly acquired Ability Preview. Emotion Influence sounded useful, but he still needed to work hard to reach 5,000 Emotion Points.
He opened his textbooks and began preparing for the Midterm Exam. With his current Intelligence, the exams were no problem, but he had to win his bet with Horikita convincingly. More importantly, the exam was a good chance to strengthen his position in the class.
"The Midterm Exam, the special test..." Tang Yu murmured. "Looks like life at this school won't be boring."
Outside the window, the setting sun painted the sky gold and crimson. Tang Yu stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the campus, a confident smile tugging at his lips.
He had taken his first step in this world where strength reigned supreme. The road ahead would be even more exciting.
[Current Emotion Points: 3650/5000] [Next-stage goal: Unlock "Emotion Influence"] [Special reminder: Attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka has reached 70%. Proceed with caution.]
The system notification flickered before his eyes. Tang Yu took a deep breath and began planning his next move.
Class competition, special tests, conflicts with the other classes... all of them were perfect opportunities to collect Emotion Points. Most importantly, he had to be careful with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the biggest wildcard of all.
"The game has only just begun," Tang Yu said softly. The windowpane reflected his deep gaze and confident smile.
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