"Don't we have PE with Class B and Class D together this afternoon? I can put it on then and give you a demonstration. I brought it with me, as it happens."
"Huh? You really can?"
Ichinose Honami's eyes widened.
She had thought Su Wei might keep it to himself, or use it as leverage to demand something.
After all, as the first person to redeem a Combat Suit, he could have built on his lead and stayed ahead.
"What's the big deal?"
Su Wei said casually,
"We'll probably be teaming up sooner or later anyway. If my teammates are stronger, I'll have less to worry about, won't I?"
Ichinose visibly relaxed at his words.
"Thank you so much, Su Wei! I... I don't even know what to say."
She spoke from the heart.
This school might promote strength above all else, but sure enough, there were still plenty of good people in the world.
"Ding-a-ling—"
The sharp ring of the school bell suddenly sounded.
"Ichinose, it's time for class."
Shiranami Chihiro hurried over and, quite naturally, linked arms with Ichinose.
Her voice was gentle, but the moment her gaze swept over Su Wei, it turned sharp. She looked just like a little cat hissing at him.
"Ah! Sorry!"
Ichinose cried out as if she'd just remembered something, then hurriedly rummaged in her pocket.
"Um... Su Wei!"
She handed him a small bottle of Max Coffee that was still warm from her body, looking a little embarrassed.
"It's nothing expensive, but please take it! Think of it as an apology for keeping you here!"
Su Wei took the coffee without demurring.
"Thanks. You've saved me a trip."
"See you this afternoon!"
As Ichinose was led away, Su Wei could clearly sense Shiranami giving him another fierce glare before she left.
That look...
Possessive, huh...
What a sinful woman, Ichinose.
Su Wei didn't mind. He opened the coffee and took a swig.
Yep. Coffee really was awful.
It was only good for looking cool.
Cola was way better, and an ice-cold Lao Da was better still.
"Can I come with you?"
As they walked, Kushida Kikyo suddenly spoke up.
"Of course," Su Wei said with a nod. "You're the group admin of the Black Sphere Mutual Aid Group, after all!"
Kushida froze.
She was the group admin. She'd taken part in the first exam, and had been lucky enough not to be selected as a regular. She'd even had two more chances to avoid selection than the students who hadn't yet entered the Black Sphere.
By all logic, she should have felt relieved and superior.
But for some reason,
she wasn't happy.
"That's right... I'm the group admin."
Time flew by, and before they knew it, afternoon had arrived.
Students from Class B and Class D were warming up on the sports field.
Under normal circumstances, PE for Class D was basically a free period. The boys played ball, the girls chatted, and everyone did as they pleased.
But now, with their daily conduct tied to their Class Points, the students had no choice but to put on a show of taking things seriously, however reluctant they were.
Of course, a few had given up completely.
Sudo and the others, for instance, figured that since they were already at rock bottom, one more person slacking off wouldn't make a difference.
And then there was...
Su Wei.
While everyone was gathering for roll call, Su Wei used the excuse of going to the equipment room to get something and slipped away without a care.
It was the perfect time. There were fewer people around, so it was less likely anyone would notice him.
He sent Kushida and Ichinose his location on his phone, then stepped into a changing stall in the equipment room.
A few minutes later,
just as he'd changed into the Combat Suit and was about to pull his tracksuit over it, the equipment room door creaked open.
Kushida Kikyo and Ichinose Honami slipped inside one after the other, looking like they were sneaking around.
"Su Wei!"
As soon as they saw him, Kushida complained crossly,
"Our conduct is tied to the class score now! If a teacher catches you skipping class, you'll lose points!"
"I already covered for you and told them you were absent... Please be more careful next time!"
"Oh, right. I forgot."
Su Wei brushed her off without a hint of sincerity. "I'll be sure to next time."
Kushida puffed out her cheeks, clearly unhappy with his dismissive attitude.
Ichinose's attention, meanwhile, was already fixed on Su Wei.
Even through his tracksuit, she could see the metallic sheen of the black material at his collar.
"You've... already put it on?"
Su Wei didn't waste time with an answer.
He went straight to the rack and fixed his gaze on a dumbbell marked "20 kg."
Then,
to the two girls' astonishment,
he hooked a pinky finger through the handle.
As if it were a fake made of foam, he lifted the dumbbell into the air with one finger. He even swung it around casually, without showing the slightest strain.
"This..."
Ichinose stepped forward and tried to take the dumbbell with both hands.
"Ugh!"
The weight hit her all at once. Her body lurched downward, and she nearly dropped it on her toes.
It really was twenty kilograms!
The real deal!
"...That's ridiculous."
Kushida's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. This time, she didn't seem to be putting on an act.
Su Wei took the dumbbell and casually returned it to the rack.
"That's how ridiculous it is."
"As for jumping..."
As he spoke, he gave a couple of light hops in place.
Then he bent his knees and gathered himself slightly.
"Whoosh!"
As the two girls watched in disbelief, Su Wei leaped four or five meters into the air and easily grabbed the high steel beam supporting the equipment room's ceiling with one hand.
"Thud."
He let go and landed steadily.
He was still completely at ease, with not a hint of discomfort on his face.
"That's amazing..."
Ichinose quickly jotted things down on her phone, her voice filled with awe.
"This Combat Suit... is absurdly good value for the points."
"Lifting a dumbbell weighing dozens of pounds like it's nothing, and jumping four or five meters..."
She looked up.
"It looks like we should make sure everyone gets one as soon as possible."
"By the way, Su Wei."
As if she'd just thought of something, Ichinose hesitated before speaking up.
"I have another idea I'd like to test."
"Go ahead," Su Wei replied succinctly.
Ichinose glanced around and lowered her voice.
"In the Black Sphere Trial, the Standard Gun and the Capture Gun aren't bound to their owners. We can trade them and use each other's, right?"
"That's right."
"Then I want to know... is this Reinforcement Suit bound to a specific person?"
"If it can be lent to someone else..."
"Then the classmates who don't want to participate because the previous members' lives are in danger, or the newcomers selected at random, wouldn't have to go through so much."
Su Wei couldn't help but be taken aback.
Sure enough, the patch had been the right call.
Here was someone trying to exploit a bug right in front of the game master.
He looked at the hopeful expression on Ichinose's face and kept his own expression steady.
"How are we supposed to test that? Call Ryuen Kakeru and Katsuragi Kohei over?"
"No..."
"No, there's no need to go to that much trouble!"
The girl seemed to make up her mind.
She bit her lip and looked at Su Wei with determination, then glanced at Kushida, who was standing guard beside her.
"I'll do it!"
"As long as no one tells anyone, it'll be fine..."
"I've already caused you both so much trouble. I can't burden you any more!"
Kushida looked dumbfounded, but quickly waved her hands to show her loyalty:
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