Triggering a Conversation and the Collapsing Sudo

He stood where he was, using Psychokinesis and his senses to silently sweep the surrounding environment.

However, everything was normal; there were only a few students hurrying by, none carrying dangerous items or showing any malice toward him.

"Tsk," Lin Mu pursed his lips, muttering to himself, Forget it, I can't figure it out.

Anyway, with my abilities, no one in this academy should be able to truly hurt me. I'll ponder it slowly after the exams tomorrow.

He then resumed his stride, habitually patting the pocket of his uniform trousers, only to find that just one last grape-flavored lollipop remained inside.

He peeled off the wrapper and popped it into his mouth, then remembered that the snacks and backup lollipops stockpiled in his dorm were also running low.

His brow furrowed instantly.

Restocking... what a hassle.

(Actually, the academy offers delivery, but I need to go out to trigger the plot.)

Going to the convenience store, picking things out, carrying them back... just thinking about these steps made him feel like his chronic laziness was about to flare up.

But... a life without lollipops and snacks is unimaginable! Is that even living? That's called ascetic monk training!

Despite his deep reluctance, his dependence on sweets and snack foods, combined with the excuse of maintaining his "full-status" condition, eventually overcame his inertia.

Lin Mu sighed, resigned to his fate, and turned his direction toward the academy convenience store.

As soon as he entered the store, he activated "shopping mode."

His gaze locked precisely onto the candy section, grabbing two large bags of every flavor of lollipop—milk, strawberry, grape, orange, cola, mint...

On the adjacent potato chip shelf, he grabbed several large bags of various brands and flavors as well.

(Cucumber-flavored chips are delicious.)

Biscuits, chocolate wafers, small bags of nuts, and a certain brand of lactic acid drink he had been enjoying lately... in no time, his shopping basket was piled high.

At checkout, the terminal deducted a considerable amount of points, but he didn't even blink.

He walked out of the convenience store carrying two heavy bags of "strategic supplies," the cool evening breeze brushing against his face.

"Since I'm already here..."

Looking at the flashing neon signs of the academy's commercial district not far away, this classic thought popped into his mind.

And so, his footsteps deviated once again from the straight path to the dormitory, turning toward his favorite dessert shop in the commercial district.

Strawberry cream cake, give me two;

Chocolate lava cake, looks good, give me one;

Matcha red bean pudding, refreshing and not too sweet, give me a box;

And the new mango pancake...

(Flying horse year Wang Wenwen, Lu Bu jumps with his ultimate.)

By the time he left the dessert shop, feeling satisfied, he had two more exquisite paper bags filled to the brim in his hands.

Thus, for the final stretch back to the dorm, Lin Mu's image became somewhat comical: a 178cm tall, cold and handsome white-haired boy with a lollipop hanging from his mouth.

With two bulging bags in each hand, he walked along the evening campus path with a slightly heavy but still lazy rhythm.

Fortunately, there weren't many people on the road, otherwise, the number of heads turning would likely have been even higher.

Just as he passed an intersection leading from the commercial district to the dormitory area, a familiar voice rang out with surprise:

"Lin Mu-san!"

Lin Mu looked toward the sound and saw Ichinose walking from another path, also carrying a small shopping bag that seemed to contain some stationery and snacks.

Her long, golden hair shimmered with a warm luster in the evening afterglow, and her face was filled with a sincere and bright smile as she hurried over.

"It really is you! Long time no see!"

(Is it a cousin?... It's a younger cousin!)

Ichinose stopped in front of him, her tone full of gratitude, her eyes shining as she looked at him.

"Thank you so much for what you told me last time! After I went back, I thought about it carefully and felt that what you said was right.

So, I later led the students of Class B to work hard on maintaining good campus habits and taking every classroom performance and small quiz seriously..."

She became more excited as she spoke, her tone light: "The results have been really good!

Although our Class B might not be the absolute best, our class points have been very stable this month; there have been no deductions, and everyone is very united! This is all thanks to your reminder back then!"

Lin Mu looked at her vibrant, motivated appearance and compared it to the mess that was his own Class D. He felt no ripples in his heart, only nodding faintly:

"It's because you manage them well, and the students of Class B are willing to listen to advice and work hard together."

He spoke the truth, "If it were Class D..." He paused, remembering the faces in the classroom who still clung to their own ways and the scene of Ken Sudo slamming the table, then shook his head.

"Even if I reminded them, I doubt many would actually take it to heart. In the end, points would be deducted, and they'd get zeros regardless."

His words were blunt, even a bit cold, but Ichinose knew he was stating facts. Her face showed no displeasure; instead, she nodded even more earnestly:

"Yes! That's why I feel very lucky to be with everyone in Class B.

Of course, I'm also very lucky to have met a... well, friend like you, Lin Mu-san?"

When she said "friends," she hesitated slightly, as if unsure whether the term was appropriate, and her cheeks flushed a faint red.

Lin Mu gave a noncommittal response. Friends? Perhaps, at least better than strangers.

The two stood by the side of the road like this, chatting casually for a few moments.

The topics were nothing more than the recent daily routines of their respective classes and a slight anxiety about the upcoming midterm exams—Ichinose was genuinely nervous, while Lin Mu was faking it. During the conversation, Ichinose looked at Lin Mu and mentioned how a new snack shop in the shopping district tasted.

The atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful, as if two ordinary classmates had bumped into each other and exchanged pleasantries.

After saying goodbye, Ichinose walked in the opposite direction, her steps light and brisk.

Lin Mu, meanwhile, continued carrying his four large bags of "supplies," sauntering slowly back to his dormitory.

In the blink of an eye, the day for the official announcement of the midterm exam results arrived.

Inside the Class D classroom, the air seemed to have solidified, permeated with a strange atmosphere mixed with tension, anticipation, unease, and a hint of relief.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes locked firmly on Chabashira Sae at the podium, waiting for her to deliver the verdict that would decide their fate.

Thanks to the answers that Kikyo Kushida had "gone to great lengths" to obtain, most of the students had felt "confident" during the exam, answering the questions with unusual ease.

After the exam, they had compared answers in private and seemed to be mostly on the right track.

Because of this, a hint of irrepressible joy and anticipation flowed through the classroom—this time, they would finally be able to get class points, right?

They would finally be able to escape the nightmare of a zero score, right?

Chabashira Sae stood on the podium, her face still wearing that same unchanging, cold expression.

Her gaze was like ice, slowly sweeping over every expectant face below, and the corners of her mouth seemed to twitch downward in a way that was almost imperceptible.

"To be honest," she began, her voice flat and waveless, echoing clearly through the silent classroom, "I am somewhat shocked."

Many students below felt a surge of joy—shocked by our progress?

However, Chabashira Sae's next sentence instantly made their hearts sink.

"I didn't expect you to actually get scores like this this time."

Her tone made it impossible to tell if she was praising or criticizing them. "I acknowledge your... superficial 'efforts'."

"However," her tone shifted abruptly, and her icy gaze, like a scalpel, pierced precisely toward a seat in the back row of the classroom, "one student did not pass."

(Ken Sudo was in the last row by the door)

She paused, then clearly spat out the name:

"Sudo."

"Boom—!"

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Ken Sudo's mind!

He jerked his head up, the color draining from his face instantly. His eyes widened, his pupils contracting slightly from shock and fear.

He was frozen, stiff in his seat, unable to react for several full seconds.

"No... impossible!"

He finally reacted, slamming his hands on the desk and standing up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, the loud sound shaking the entire classroom.

His face flushed red, his voice distorted by panic and hysteria as he pointed at Chabashira Sae and shouted, questioning her:

"Stop joking! I clearly... I clearly memorized the answers! How could I have failed?! You must have made a mistake!"

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