Chapter 25

I began to explain patiently. Having a top student from another class volunteer to be her tutor, Kobashi naturally had no thoughts of Ichinose. After all, she didn't have the same desire as Shiranami to hug Ichinose every chance she got or the wish to be in a yuri relationship with her, so she very naturally handed over her entire study schedule to me. Although I'm not handsome, I am very gentle... wait, no! It's that I'm very talented! That's why I left such a great impression on Kobashi in just one night. "I've actually compiled a workbook myself. If you master those problems, Kobashi-san, passing the exam won't be an issue. How about this? Leave your contact info, and I'll send it to you another day... Oh! Almost forgot, here's your pen back." Finally, I made sure to go the extra mile; even after evening self-study ended, I didn't forget to leave something behind—this would be the catalyst for our future contact. Anyway, based on my observations of Class B's study situation, this workbook didn't have much utility left, so trading it for her contact info could be called recycling waste. "No problem, Kitazawa-san. Or... or why don't you just keep this pen! Consider it a thank you for guiding my review tonight." Kobashi said, blushing and looking a bit embarrassed. "Then I'll accept it without standing on ceremony." Watching me leave with a satisfied look, Kobashi couldn't wait to share the night's events with Shiranami and the others, looking exactly like a girl who had fallen in love at first sight. However, she didn't know that she was merely a small fulcrum for me to pry into Class B. Unless there was a specific necessity, I wouldn't date her; this current vague sense of affection was actually the best state. Lustful as I might be, I still have my principles; rising to Class A is the real business. Dating girls from other classes isn't impossible, but it's easy to end up caught in the middle, which is something a cautious little person like me wants to avoid. This isn't called playing with people's feelings; it's just that I'm young and don't understand love. It's a first love, after all—what those little girls want is that hazy, blurred beauty. The men who are truly the worst are the ones who eat their fill, wipe their mouths clean, and then walk away without a care; that must be it. Speaking of fulcrums, I've been so busy lately that I'd forgotten about Ayanokoji, the fulcrum I had reserved in Class D. I hope this guy doesn't get expelled directly in this exam... If he can survive, I'll try to contact him, shall I? If it's Class A, I should try to get to know a few people there too. Although theoretically, people in Class A don't need to cooperate with other classes, there are always exceptions; humans are just like that. After scouting Class B and leaving behind a catalyst, I fell into deep thought about the school's system. Admittedly, academic ability shouldn't be the only thing used to evaluate a student, but the fact that Ichinose, the top scorer in the entrance exam, wasn't assigned to Class A was something I couldn't understand. In today's brief contact, I didn't find any major flaws in Ichinose; in fact, I had a very good impression of her. Of course, that has nothing to do with her seemingly very lewd body. Although this good impression was likely just acting—after all, I am a master of acting myself—isn't acting a necessary skill for becoming a normal person in society? What exactly is the basis for the school's class assignments? If the entrance exam is just a reference with insufficient weight, then the evaluation of students must have started long ago. Records from middle school, elementary school, or even kindergarten? If so, that makes it even stranger. Would thugs with notorious reputations like Ishizaki and Ryuen have pretty records? They would only be disastrous, right? Is this school so bored that it wants to take the initiative to reform these guys for society? Thinking of these suspicious points, I couldn't help but feel a headache; the time I've been in this school is indeed still too short. Peering through a tube at a leopard, it's hard to uncover the truth of this school right now. Author's note: There will be another update later. Volume 1: First Glimpse of Talent : 1 (7) The pointed bullet is better than a sharp speech. The pointed bullet is better than a sharp speech. -- Otto von Bismarck. A week had passed since Ryuen and Yamada fought for the second time, and just as the people in the class were getting used to and forgetting about the bandages and the conflict between the two, a turning point arrived. After school today, Ryuen didn't find a bathroom to settle things privately with Yamada one after the other; instead, he closed the front door and sat brazenly on the teacher's desk. This left the students preparing to leave the school quite confused, but the onlookers, not knowing what kind of madness this fierce guy was up to today, didn't dare to be the first to leave. Of course, our Ibuki-san didn't buy it; she ignored Ryuen and prepared to leave through the back door. Suddenly, a black shadow flashed, and Yamada appeared unexpectedly, blocking her path. "What the hell? Move!" Ibuki reached out to push Yamada, but her wrist was easily grabbed and she was thrown back; Yamada remained silent throughout the whole process. "Ah!" It wasn't until Ibuki, a girl, fell magnificently to the ground that everyone in the class reacted, looking at Ryuen in horror. "I have an announcement to make, so listen carefully!" Ryuen didn't care whether the clubs present would be late or not; his method was that even if you didn't want to stay, you had to. For a moment, the classroom was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. After scanning the room, Ryuen smiled with satisfaction and spoke again: "From today on, I am the king of this class! Anyone who is dissatisfied can come and challenge me now! If you don't dare, then obediently listen to my commands from now on, and I will lead you guys to rise to Class A!" As soon as he said this, it immediately caused a violent shock. That's right, Class C had been waiting for a leader, but no one had ever associated the position of leader with Ryuen, who spent his days fighting and brawling. "Don't joke around! What qualifications do you have to lead us!" A guy named Nomura immediately jumped out in dissatisfaction, but it seemed he hadn't figured out the situation yet. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down; with Ryuen's tacit approval, Yamada walked toward Nomura and slapped him right across the face. No one had expected Ryuen to dare to use force in the classroom—no, wait, he seemed to have done exactly that before. A person like him wouldn't care about cameras or anything like that. Without even thinking, there was another round of screaming from the girls and the sound of pushing and cursing in the class. "Anyone else unconvinced? Everyone's time is precious, so I suggest you all stand up together!" Ryuen didn't even look at the pathetic state of Nomura, who had been sent flying in public, and continued to ask. This time, no one spoke. That's right, even Yamada had been subdued; what was the point of standing up to die? And Ibuki's encounter told everyone that Ryuen was a "wolf-man" who would hit a girl without hesitation. "Unanimous vote, then. Next is the near-term strategy. I'm not good at exam review, nor am I interested. You guys just follow Kitazawa, Kaneda, and the others to hold study sessions, and that will be fine. Anyone who still can't pass after that can just get the hell out of this school!" What a brutal strategy... but everyone swallowed their complaints; no one interrupted Ryuen. "For the boys, I need some manpower..." Ryuen said, scanning the room, "Ishizaki, that's you! You and your people come to me after club activities every day. Don't worry about the exams; Kitazawa and the others will definitely find a way to make you pass." It was another inexplicable arrangement, but Ishizaki...