The Multiverse, Starting with *Fullmetal Alchemist* as the Mastermind - Chapter 37

"That is indeed a good idea." Hirata's eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply to Kushida. "Then let me thank you on behalf of the whole class, Kushida!"

"You always manage to be a huge help at the most critical moments."

"It's nothing, it's what I should do."

Kushida Kikyo accepted the praise gracefully, her face still wearing that impeccable smile.

"After all, we are all members of Class D~"

"That's how it is! So, having made such a bold promise, I had no choice but to come and ask you for help, Ichinose!"

At the corner of the hallway.

Kushida Kikyo pressed her palms together toward Ichinose Honami, her face full of pleading, as if she were truly heartbroken over the struggles of her classmates.

Seeing this, Ichinose waved her hands quickly, her tone gentle:

"It's okay, Kushida. This is something I wanted to do anyway. And... as it happens, there are some things about the Reinforcement Suit I don't quite understand, and I was planning to ask Su Wei for help."

"Since our goals don't conflict, let's just solve it together in a little while."

"Really? Thank you so much!"

Kushida Kikyo beamed instantly and grabbed Ichinose's arm:

"But as expected of Ichinose, to have gathered the points for the Reinforcement Suit so quickly! How does the Combat Suit feel? Isn't it amazing?"

Faced with such flattery, Ichinose Honami did not show the joy one might expect.

On the contrary, a flash of darkness and complexity crossed her eyes.

But she quickly hid these emotions well, not wanting to worry Kushida.

Ichinose Honami put her gentle smile back on:

"Yeah, it's strong, really strong!"

"After putting it on, I even feel like I could outrun an Olympic champion."

"An Olympic champion..."

Hearing this comparison, Kushida, who was subconsciously following Ichinose toward the changing room, couldn't help but recall the inhuman display Su Wei had shown in the equipment room that day.

She sighed:

"Ichinose, aren't you a bit too optimistic about the limits of humanity?"

"I don't think anyone can lift a twenty-kilogram dumbbell with their pinky finger or jump four or five meters into the air just like that~"

Ichinose paused in her tracks.

She scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed:

"Hehe, is that so?"

"I didn't think too much about it, just said it off the top of my head... Maybe I haven't fully adapted to this change yet."

Chapter 32: Horikita's Frustration

Su Wei withdrew his gaze, pulling his eyes away from the backs of Kushida Kikyo and Ichinose Honami as they walked away side by side.

He turned to look not far away at Horikita Suzune, who was stretching and warming up under the shade of a tree.

The girl was wearing a deep red tracksuit, its slim-fit cut outlining the toned lines brought about by years of exercise.

As she performed a downward stretch, her already long legs displayed astonishing flexibility.

If he wanted to, with the help of the Spectator, or the X-ray vision developed through the previous Superpower Training Box, that layer of fabric would be no barrier to his sight.

But Su Wei did not do so.

He also had no intention of experimenting with the Magic Butt that had refreshed this afternoon, which allowed for sensory links with people's backsides and could lead to even bolder gameplay.

The reason was simple.

He had long since moved past his Xiao Chunan phase; there was no need to be obsessed with such cheap tricks. Getting hands-on was better than peeking.

"However..."

Su Wei rubbed his chin, thinking to himself:

"Yesterday it was the Magic Glove, today the Magic Butt; does this thing have a habit of visiting in sets?"

"If that's the case, why not just give me the Dog Talisman..."

It couldn't be helped.

For a Chinese person, the temptation of immortality was even greater than the Imperial Seal!

It was a desire carved into his DNA; no one could refuse it!

Not to mention that the Dog Talisman also came with the bonus of immortality and the effect of keeping the host in their prime state forever.

Perhaps it was because Su Wei's gaze was too direct while he was thinking, or perhaps the area he was focusing on was a bit subtle.

Horikita Suzune, who had been stretching her legs, paused in her movement.

Feeling Su Wei's gaze, which seemed capable of piercing through everything, she only felt a prickling sensation all over her body.

The girl retracted her long leg, walked up to Su Wei with an expressionless face, and spoke coldly:

"What is the meaning of this?"

"...What meaning?"

Su Wei snapped out of his thoughts, looked at the cold, black-haired girl standing before him, and immediately realized what she was referring to.

He shrugged and said casually:

"Don't misunderstand, I wasn't looking at you; I was thinking about something."

"That's good."

Horikita Suzune let out a cold snort, crossed her arms over her chest, and adopted a posture that kept others at a distance:

"Even if you are interested in me, you would do well to give up as soon as possible."

"I have no intention of dating, and I certainly won't waste my time on such boring matters."

Su Wei remained silent for a long moment, watching her earnest expression, and couldn't help but speak up:

"Horikita."

"Has anyone ever told you... that you're a bit self-absorbed?"

Horikita Suzune raised an eyebrow, her sharp, phoenix-like eyes narrowing as she prepared to retort.

Yet, for some reason, her thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to last night.

After the Black Sphere Trial ended, she had gone alone to the Black Sphere to check the evaluation it had given her.

Even though she knew the Black Sphere had a venomous tongue and had prepared herself mentally, she still resolutely chose to check it.

She did so to find clues about the memories missing from the trial and to figure out exactly how she had won.

And then, she was thoroughly crushed.

The Black Sphere had stated:

[You must be very proud right now, believing that it was your own efforts that brought Class D to the top, aren't you?]

[But what if I told you that you were just being carried... what would you do then?]

[Admit it, Horikita, you were just lucky enough to happen upon the right person.]

If someone had slandered or insulted her in public, Horikita Suzune might have remained calm, or even looked on with cold indifference.

But this kind of denial regarding her own abilities, this sense of defeat that struck directly at her soul, was her Achilles' heel.

She could have comforted herself by telling herself that Su Wei was merely relying on the Reinforcement Suit as a cheat.

However, her pride would not allow her to do so.

It was a classic case of being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Horikita Suzune bit her lip and gave Su Wei a deep look.

In those eyes, there was both unwillingness and a certain kind of ignited fighting spirit.

Next time...

I must not be outdone by anyone again!

Just as the two of them stood there acting like experts, the atmosphere gradually began to stiffen.

On the other side of the playground.

Ichinose Honami, having changed into her Combat Suit, had already walked over with Kushida Kikyo.

Seeing this.

Hirata Yosuke and Amikura Mako also began calling out to their respective classmates, indicating that there was an important announcement to be made.

Compared to Class B, who clearly had some mental preparation due to Ichinose's prior groundwork, Class D was completely bewildered.

"What's going on? It's free time, can't this wait until after class?"

"Exactly, Hirata, why are you being so mysterious?"

Although complaints rose one after another, due to Hirata Yosuke's prestige in the class, everyone still gathered together.

Hirata Yosuke and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took the opportunity to distribute the printed reports to everyone.

The content of the report was detailed, containing not only an explanation of the Black Sphere's rules but also the shocking photos Ayanokoji had taken during the Black Sphere Trial last night.

As everyone finished reading, gasps of cold air erupted one after another from the crowd.

"Is this for real? The school building is haunted?"

"Zombies? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Is this the reason for our point fluctuations?"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Ichinose Honami gave a light cough and stepped forward.

Although she was wearing a tracksuit, the black material faintly visible at the collar and cuffs still allowed those with sharp eyes to catch a glimpse of the truth.

"I believe everyone has more or less finished reading."

Ichinose scanned the crowd:

"I must say, this is not false information, nor is it a prank fabricated to fool everyone."

"The reason I gathered everyone here today is to ensure you understand the changes at this school as quickly as possible, and to work together to formulate a response."

"Huh? Are you kidding me!"

Sudo, the troublemaker from Class D, slammed the report in his hand onto the ground and shouted:

"Monsters, Black Spheres—who would believe such fairy tales for children!"

"Exactly! Anyone can talk big. Who could possibly believe you?"

Faced with the skepticism, Ichinose did not panic.

She did not rush to refute them either, but instead continued:

"Of course, words alone are not proof."

"That is why I am here today, to prove it to everyone."

As she spoke, Ichinose glanced at Amikura Mako beside her.

Amikura Mako gave a slight nod and pushed a crate containing fitness equipment, such as a basketball and dumbbells, in front of the group.

Ichinose Honami reached out and rolled up her sleeves, revealing the black, tight-fitting material attached to her palms and wrists.

Under the sunlight, the material shimmered with a strange matte texture, appearing both like metal and like the skin of some living creature.

"What I am wearing under my clothes is the Combat Suit exchanged from the Black Sphere."

"As for its effects..."