The morning sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains. Tang Yu opened his eyes, and the System Interface immediately unfolded before him.
[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 Attribute 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 (ordinary human level)] [Agility: 8 (athlete level)] [Intelligence: 10 (human limit)] [Charisma: 8 (eye-catching)]
Tang Yu nodded in satisfaction. Today was PE class, so it was the perfect chance to test his enhanced agility.
After washing up, he changed into his sportswear and tidied his hair in the mirror. The boy in the reflection had black hair and eyes, sharply defined features, and a faint, ever-present smile at the corners of his mouth that made him hard to read.
"Today's goal is to collect at least 1,000 Emotion Points." Tang Yu spoke to himself in the mirror. "Especially from that Ken Sudō..."
He remembered that, in the original story, Class D's basketball standout, Ken Sudō, had a short temper and a fierce sense of pride. He was one of the easiest targets to provoke into intense emotional swings.
Quite a few students were already walking around campus. Tang Yu deliberately slowed his pace, using his newly unlocked Emotion Perception ability to observe the emotional states of those around him.
Faint blue Emotion Clouds floated above most students-calm or bored. A few were pink, probably because they were thinking of someone they liked. Only a handful were dark red with anger or deep green with jealousy.
[Emotion Perception Proficiency +5%]
The system notification made Tang Yu smile faintly. He would need to keep practicing to fully master this ability.
"Good morning, Tang!"
An energetic girl's voice came from behind him. Tang Yu turned and saw Kushida Kikyo hurrying to catch up, her long blond hair sparkling in the morning light.
"Good morning, Kushida." Tang Yu greeted her politely, noticing that the Emotion Cloud above her head was an unnatural pink, with a trace of gray within it-wariness concealed beneath her outward enthusiasm.
"That math problem yesterday was amazing! Everyone in class is talking about you." Kushida clasped her hands together, her eyes shining.
[False Admiration from Kushida Kikyo +30]
Tang Yu sneered inwardly, but put on a modest expression. "You're giving me too much credit. I just happened to know how to solve that problem."
"We have a 50-meter sprint test in PE today. Are you good at running?" Kushida asked as if casually, though her intention to probe him was obvious.
"I'm average, I guess." Tang Yu gave an ambiguous answer. "What about you?"
"I'm terrible at sports." Kushida stuck out her tongue. The gesture should have seemed cute, but under Tang Yu's Emotion Perception, it only revealed how deliberately she was crafting her image.
They chatted all the way to the field, where the other students were already gathering. Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing alone in a corner, while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka blended into the crowd and looked utterly inconspicuous.
PE Teacher Sakagami Kazuma blew his whistle. "Today we'll have a 50-meter sprint and a standing long jump test. They'll count toward your Midterm Exam grades. You'll compete in pairs, in student-number order."
Tang Yu's student number was near the end, so he had a chance to watch the others first. Ken Sudō was naturally the fastest in the class, clocking an impressive 6.3 seconds.
Horikita Suzune also did well, with 7.1 seconds. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka deliberately ran an average time of 7.8 seconds, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception picked up his unusual control of his pace. That guy was definitely hiding his abilities.
"Next pair: Tang Yu and Koenji Rokusuke."
A murmur spread through the class. Koenji was the class's famous oddball, with long blond hair who called himself a "genius beyond ordinary people" and never did anything by the book.
"What a boring test." Koenji yawned. "But since my opponent is you, Transfer Student, I'll deign to run."
Tang Yu stepped onto the track and rolled his ankles. He decided to show a little of what he could do, but not enough to draw too much attention-around seven seconds should be right.
"On your marks-"
Tang Yu bent into the starting position. Suddenly, the system chimed:
[Temporary Mission: Make a splash in PE class] [Reward: Unlock a new ability based on the number of Emotion Points collected]
Tang Yu narrowed his eyes. He had to change his plan.
"Get set-bang!"
The starting pistol fired, and Tang Yu shot off the line like an arrow. His muscles moved in perfect coordination, and even the air resistance seemed to lessen. His Agility Attribute of 8 was on full display.
Five seconds later, Tang Yu crossed the finish line. The field fell silent.
"5.91 seconds..." Sakagami-sensei stared at the stopwatch in disbelief. "That's already the National Level Two Athlete Standard."
Koenji jogged 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] [Jealousy from Ken Sudō +100] [Competitive Spirit from Horikita Suzune +80] [Wariness from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +120]
Tang Yu's Emotion Points shot up in an instant, and he fought back a smile. Ken Sudō's flushed face and almost palpable jealousy were an absolute windfall.
"Impossible!" Ken Sudō rushed over. "The timer must be broken!"
Sakagami-sensei frowned. "Sudō, watch your language."
"Then let's run it again!" Ken Sudō glared at Tang Yu. "I challenge you."
Tang Yu shrugged. "Works for me."
[Anger from Ken Sudō +50]
In the second race, Tang Yu deliberately held back and narrowly beat Sudō with a time of 6.2 seconds to Sudō's 6.3. That proved Tang Yu's ability while still letting Sudō save a little face-after all, he would need to keep collecting Emotion Points from him.
"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 short of Ken Sudō's 2.9. His strong showing in both events completely changed his classmates' impression that he was "just good at studying."
"Tang, I didn't know you were so good at sports, too." During lunch break, Hirata Yosuke, the public face of Class D, approached him. "Would you consider joining the Track and Field Club?"
"I'll think about it." Tang Yu declined politely, noticing that Hirata's Emotion Cloud was a sincere sky blue-this good-hearted guy really was thinking about the class.
Tang Yu went to the rooftop alone for lunch. He had barely sat down when he sensed someone approaching. That distinctive emotional fluctuation-calm on the surface, with undercurrents churning beneath-could only belong to that 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 subtle and tense.
"Your running form is very professional." Ayanokoji suddenly spoke. "Have you had training?"
Tang Yu took a bite of his rice ball. "I joined the Track and Field Team when I was a kid." That was true. Before he crossed over, he had indeed been on the Track and Field Team in middle school, though his results had been mediocre.
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 directly.
Ayanokoji's chopsticks paused. "A genius Transfer Student has arrived in Class D. Anyone would be curious."
"Even an 'ordinary student' like you?" Tang Yu deliberately emphasized the word "ordinary."
Their gazes clashed in midair. Tang Yu's Emotion Perception clearly caught a flicker deep within Ayanokoji-a complex feeling, both wary and excited, at the discovery of someone like himself.
[Strong Interest from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +150]
"This school is interesting." Ayanokoji changed the subject. "On the surface, it assigns students to classes based on grades, but the actual standards must be much more complicated."
Tang Yu knew he was testing how much he knew about the school's system. "Yeah. For instance, I scored in the top three on the Entrance Exam, but still ended up in Class D."
"Do you know why?"
"Lack of teamwork?" Tang Yu deliberately repeated Chabashira-sensei's words.
Ayanokoji shook his head slightly. "I think it's because the school saw some particular quality in you."
"What quality?"
"The same quality we have." After saying this meaningful sentence, Ayanokoji stood up and left. "See you this afternoon, Tang."
Tang Yu watched Ayanokoji's retreating figure, his brows slightly furrowed. The exchange seemed like a draw, but he felt that Ayanokoji had seen through something about him.
[Temporary Mission Complete] [Reward Received: Ability Preview-"Emotion Influence" (can slightly influence others' emotional states)] [Unlock Condition: Emotion Points reach 5000]
This new ability made Tang Yu's eyes light up. If he could actively influence other people's emotions, he could collect Emotion Points more easily and gain the upper hand in social interactions.
At the afternoon homeroom meeting, Chabashira-sensei announced an important piece of news. "The Midterm Exam will be held next week, and the results will affect your Class Points. Also, there will be a Special Exam at the end of the month. The details will be announced at that time."
The classroom immediately filled with groans. Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune's expression turn serious, while Ayanokoji still looked unconcerned.
"Tang Yu, after the homeroom meeting, Horikita approached him. As for our bet, let's settle it based on the Midterm Exam."
Tang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Can't wait to admit defeat already?"
[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 something for me."
"What?"
"I haven't decided yet." Tang Yu flashed a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything illegal."
Horikita stared at Tang Yu for a few seconds, seemingly judging whether he could be trusted. "Deal. But if you lose, you have to tell me your real study secret."
"Agreed."
[Competitive Spirit from Horikita Suzune +90]
On the way home, Tang Yu reviewed the day's gains as he walked. His Emotion Points had reached 3,200. A few more days of effort, and he would unlock Emotion Influence.
More importantly, he had successfully drawn Ayanokoji's attention, which was crucial to his plans for the future.
As he turned a corner, Tang Yu suddenly sensed a strong wave of malice. He quickly shifted aside, and a small stone whizzed past his cheek.
"Quick reflexes, Transfer Student." Three boys wearing uniforms from other classes emerged from the shadows. The one in front had a crew cut and looked hostile.
"Is something wrong?" Tang Yu asked calmly as he activated Emotion Perception. Deep red Emotion Clouds hovered above all three of them-filled with aggressive anger and jealousy.
"I heard you're pretty arrogant, making a big show of yourself as soon as you got here." The spiky-haired boy stepped closer. "Our seniors in Class C want to teach you some manners."
Tang Yu sighed inwardly. School bullying? What a tired old trick. Still... this was also a great opportunity to collect Emotion Points.
[Side Mission triggered: Resolve the conflict and collect Emotion Points]
[Reward: Ability Points based on your performance]
"I suggest you leave now," Tang Yu said calmly, observing his surroundings at the same time: an alley, no surveillance 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 the boost from his 8 Agility, Tang Yu easily dodged. He stepped to the side, moved beside the spiky-haired boy, and gave him a gentle push, making him lose his balance and crash into the wall.
"Bastard!" The other two lunged at him at the same time.
For the next ten seconds, Tang Yu moved between the three of them as if he were dancing, making only the smallest necessary movements to avoid their attacks. Every so often, he gave them a light push or pull, making them crash into one another. He never truly fought back, yet left all three of them in a sorry state.
[Anger from the three: +150]
[Confusion from the three: +100]
[Fear from the three: +200]
"What's going on?!" The spiky-haired boy gasped for breath. "I can't land a single hit!"
"I told you, you should leave." Tang Yu still stood where he had been, his uniform not even rumpled.
The three exchanged glances and finally chose to back down. "You're lucky this time!" They dropped the tired old line and slunk away.
[Side Mission complete]
[Reward: Strength +0.5 (Current: 6.5/10)]
Tang Yu straightened his collar and was about to leave when he suddenly sensed a familiar emotional fluctuation. He turned toward the mouth of the alley. "Had enough of watching, Ayanokoji?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stepped out of the shadows, his face still wearing that indifferent expression. "I was just passing by."
"Passing by, then standing there watching for three minutes?" Tang Yu chuckled.
"Your fighting technique is unusual." Ayanokoji came straight to the point. It wasn't something ordinary school PE classes could teach.
Tang Yu's heart tightened. He had indeed used footwork he'd learned at the Martial Arts Class before he transmigrated. He hadn't expected Ayanokoji to see through it at a glance.
"Likewise," Tang Yu retorted. "The way you observe people isn't like that of an ordinary high school student, either."
The two fell into that strange, silent standoff again. Finally, Ayanokoji gave a slight nod. "Be careful of the people in 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 taken a keen interest in him. That was both an opportunity and a risk.
Back home, Tang Yu opened the System Panel and carefully studied his newly acquired Ability Preview. "Emotion Influence" sounded useful, but he still had a long way to go before reaching 5,000 Emotion Points.
He opened his textbooks and began preparing for the Midterm Exam. With his current Intelligence Attribute, the exam was no problem, but he had to win his bet with Horikita decisively. More importantly, this exam was a great opportunity to further establish his position in the class.
"Midterm Exam, Special Exam..." Tang Yu murmured. "Looks like life at this school won't be boring."
Outside the window, the setting sun stained the sky gold and red. Tang Yu stood by the window, gazing toward the campus, a confident smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
He had already taken his first step in this world where strength was everything. The road ahead would be even more exciting.
[Current Emotion Points: 3650/5000]
[Next Stage Goal: Unlock "Emotion Influence" ability]
[Special Reminder: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Attention has reached 70%. Please proceed with caution.]
The system notification flashed before his eyes. Tang Yu took a deep breath and began making his next plan.
Class competition, special exams, conflicts with other classes... These were all excellent opportunities to collect Emotion Points. Most importantly, he had to be careful in dealing with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the biggest variable of all.
"The game has only just begun," Tang Yu said softly. The windowpane reflected his deep gaze and confident smile.