The Gloomy Kushida, There Are Always Treacherous Subjects Wanting to Harm Me

As the school bell rang, the classroom of Class D became as empty as a beach after the tide had receded.

Most students couldn't wait to grab that precious "answer key" and hurried back to their dorms, intending to use this final stretch of time for a "cramming session."

Soon, only a few scattered individuals remained in the classroom.

Lin Mu watched Kikyo Kushida, who was bowing her head and diligently packing her bag, and after a moment of thought, he called out to stop her.

"Kikyo Kushida, wait a moment."

"Hm? Lin Mu, what is it?"

Kikyo Kushida looked up, her face still showing a hint of fatigue from distributing the answers, but her smile remained bright.

"I have something I want to discuss with you privately. Let's go somewhere else." Lin Mu was concise and led the way out of the classroom.

Kikyo Kushida was a bit puzzled, but she followed him immediately.

The two walked one after the other through the gradually quieting school hallway until they reached a secluded spot behind the building, where a small, classical pavilion stood.

Aside from the occasional student passing by, few people ever lingered here, making it a perfect place for a private conversation.

Lin Mu walked to the edge of the pavilion and, instead of sitting down, leaned casually against a dark red wooden pillar.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled, shifting light spots onto his short white hair and cold, sharp profile.

He had a newly unwrapped lemon-flavored lollipop in his mouth, his gaze fixed on the neatly trimmed lawn in the distance. His tone was flat, yet carried a hint of uncharacteristic seriousness:

"Kikyo Kushida," he began, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet surroundings, "the academy... would never tolerate such an obvious loophole in its rules.

The fact that you were able to obtain the answers for this midterm exam is likely not because your 'connections' are that impressive, but rather a form of 'tacit approval' from the academy... or, more accurately, from the rule-makers themselves."

The smile on Kikyo Kushida's face froze slightly.

Lin Mu didn't look at her, continuing in that same flat and direct tone: "These exam answers might work for now, keeping most of Class D from being expelled immediately and giving the class a 'chance' to catch its breath.

But next time, or the time after that, there is absolutely no way you will have the same 'good luck.'

The academy cannot, and absolutely will not, keep 'cleaning up' after Class D forever."

He paused, finally turning his head to look at Kikyo Kushida.

His eyes appeared exceptionally deep and calm under the dappled light and shadow:

"In the future, if you encounter similar 'shortcuts' or 'opportunities,' don't take them on yourself, and don't harbor any wishful thinking.

If the answers you bring back next time turn out to be wrong, how will the other students treat you then?

This school... is far more 'fair' and far more cruel than you imagine.

The 'loopholes' it shows you are often just a part of the trap itself."

His words were like a cool breeze, blowing away the lingering excitement and sense of accomplishment Kikyo Kushida felt from successfully obtaining the answers.

She looked down at the paper in her hand, which many students viewed as a lifeline, and gently traced the edges with her fingertips.

Lin Mu's words weren't hard to understand, and when combined with the strict rules the academy had previously displayed and the cold attitude of Sae Chabashira, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

That's right, if the answers were really that easy to obtain, wouldn't the academy be nothing more than a facade?

At the time, she had only thought about helping everyone get through the crisis, but she hadn't considered this layer... or perhaps, she hadn't wanted to think about it too deeply.

She looked up, a smile returning to her face. This time, the smile lacked its previous fervor, replaced by a sense of clear-eyed gratitude and warmth.

She looked at Lin Mu, her eyes sparkling:

"I understand, Lin Mu. Thank you for taking the time to tell me this."

Her tone was sincere, a genuine expression of appreciation from the heart.

"I never expected that someone who usually seems so lazy and indifferent to everything would actually care so much about your classmates and the class... and think so far ahead!"

Her praise was direct and enthusiastic, carrying the characteristic candor of Kikyo Kushida, as if she were truly just touched by Lin Mu's "kind reminder."

Lin Mu watched her bright, smiling face, which seemed to say, "You really are a good person," and listened to her thanks, which had completely veered in the wrong direction. A trace of helplessness flickered in his heart.

The point of his words had clearly been about "rule traps" and "not taking such risks again," but to her, it had turned into "Lin Mu really cares about everyone."

Forget it.

He had no interest in correcting other people's misunderstandings, especially those of such little consequence.

As for the concern of a slacker—if that could even be called concern—there was no point in saying more.

He had already given the warning; whether she listened or understood was her own business.

Thus, he simply gave a slight nod to Kikyo Kushida, acknowledging her thanks, or perhaps, ending the conversation.

He then straightened up, brushed a bit of dust off his clothes from leaning against the pillar, turned around, and walked toward the dormitory area without saying another word.

Kikyo Kushida stood where she was, still clutching the answer key, a smile still lingering on her face.

She watched Lin Mu's tall yet languid figure gradually walk away along the gravel path, eventually disappearing around the corner of the tree-lined road.

Only when Lin Mu's figure was completely out of sight did the smile on her face slowly, bit by bit, fade away.

The sun remained bright, shining on her delicate profile, yet it made that habitual sweet curve look somewhat... subtle.

She lowered her head, and deep within her eyes, a trace of something fleeting and faint—utterly different from her usual sunny and cheerful image—a sense of inquiry and a certain...

Almost paranoid possessiveness, quietly flickered past, like an undercurrent flashing through the depths of a lake.

A voice whispered softly in the bottom of her heart, carrying a hint of cloying sweetness:

"Lin Mu... is really so gentle. Always saying things that seem cold at such inadvertent moments, but are actually reminders to others...

It really makes one... want to dig out every single thought hidden beneath his lazy exterior, bit by bit, and take a good look."

Afterward, Kushida took a light breath, and when she raised her head again, her face was already wearing that flawless, vibrant smile once more.

She carefully tucked the answer into her bag and patted her cheeks—alright, stop thinking about these things.

She had made plans with a few girls from her class to go to the Academy Commercial Street after school to browse and pick up some daily necessities and snacks.

After all, if the class could really earn points this time, things would be a little more comfortable next month.

Yet, as she turned to leave the pavilion, her steps seemed to carry an extra, indescribable sense of joy amidst their usual lightness.

On the other side, Lin Mu, who was walking back to the dormitory, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down his back without any warning.

It was as if he had been quietly licked by some cold and sticky gaze.

He stopped in his tracks and reached up to touch the back of his neck, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Strange... the sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was mild.

Could it be... someone is trying to plot against me? Several possibilities flashed through his mind instantly; could it be the deep-thinking Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A?

But she didn't seem to have any reason to make a move now. Or was it someone else?

The keen perception brought by his superpower occasionally produced these "early warning" intuitions, but they were usually very vague.

(Event Period: May 1st to May 5th)