They really are high and mighty

April, the season of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

It was also the start of the new school year at Neon School.

Following the signs along the road, Chihaya Rei advanced towards the school building with steady steps.

The students walking alongside him all wore the same uniform red blazer, with white pleated skirts for the girls and green suit trousers for the boys.

This was Advanced Nurturing High School.

A school that advertised a nearly 100% success rate for college admissions and employment.

In the current social environment where youth employment is difficult, this school was even more sought after by the outside world.

But before being run over by a large truck and transported to this multi-anime world, Chihaya Rei, who had read the original work, knew very well:

Choosing the company or university you want to go to was a right only enjoyed by students who graduated from Class A of this school.

And a few minutes ago, he learned from the class assignment list that he had been assigned to Class D.

Class D students were called "flaws" in this school that valued strength above all else.

Anyone who found out they were assigned to a class of "flaws" would likely not be in a good mood.

But at this moment, Chihaya Rei's expression showed no surprise, nor was he depressed. Instead, a knowing smile played on his lips.

He had intentionally manipulated his scores to start in Class D.

Because only in Class D could the system he activated a few days ago exert its maximum effect.

The system was called the Torture God-Person System.

It was easy to understand and quite simple to use.

As long as you tortured a god-person, you would gain Torture Points. Torture Points were equivalent to experience points that could fill a progress bar. When the progress bar reached a certain level, random rewards would be unlocked.

Although it was random, the system guaranteed: System products are always high quality.

So Chihaya Rei chose to believe.

Chihaya Rei opened the system panel, visible only to him, and took a look.

[Torture Points are awarded based on the target and the degree of torture.]

[Methods of torture include, but are not limited to, verbal abuse, physical force, punishment, etc.]

[Current Torture Progress: 0%. Reaching 30% will unlock one reward.]

[Skills Owned: Explosive Drummer]

[Explosive Drummer: Strength and stamina far exceed those of ordinary people, able to use guitars and bass as drumsticks to play drums with ease.]

He was considered somewhat talented, possessing this innate skill.

It was something he had developed from playing in multiple bands before coming here.

Furthermore, Chihaya Rei found the act of torturing god-people itself interesting, not to mention the rewards from the great system.

He couldn't think of any reason to refuse.

Coincidentally, he had received an admission invitation from Advanced Nurturing High School.

Thinking of the god-people in Class D of the original protagonist Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's year, Chihaya Rei's eyes lit up.

Where else could there be more god-people than in this school?

It was worth mentioning that Advanced Nurturing was a boarding school, meaning students could not leave the school for three years.

Without a doubt, this school was the best stage for him to showcase his talents and torture god-people!

Thus, Chihaya Rei happily accepted the invitation to enroll.

He then manipulated his scores in the written and interview portions, successfully starting in Class D.

Recalling the interview day, he had merely mentioned his junior high school experience to the interviewer:

"I was truant before the high school entrance exams, involved with multiple girl bands simultaneously, and attempted to establish a harem within the bands."

It was a very ordinary matter...

It didn't take Chihaya Rei much time to find the Class D classroom.

The classroom seating was arranged in 5 columns and 8 rows, totaling 40 students. The desks and chairs were made of metal, and nameplates with students' names were affixed to the desktops.

According to the nameplates, he easily found his seat, which was in the middle of the last row.

Chihaya Rei was quite satisfied with this position, as it allowed him to observe the dynamics of the entire class.

At the same time, it was also a seat close to the god-people.

After sitting down and neatly putting away his school bag, Chihaya Rei noticed that many of the key figures in Class D had already arrived.

At the front of the classroom, Hirata Yousuke, known as Great Leaf Mountain, and Kushida Kikyo, the Little Green Tea Fake Angel Noodle Faction, were enthusiastically chatting with some classmates.

Kogenji Rokusuke, who was lounging with his legs propped on the desk, fingers interlaced behind his head, admiring himself.

And then there were... the three masterpieces of Black House.

And more important figures...

Chihaya Rei tilted his head to look at the two people sitting to his left.

In the seat by the window sat the "imposter," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

With a deadpan face, he looked like he was zoning out, but Chihaya Rei knew very well that Ayanokoji was actually assessing the safety of his surroundings.

He was probably wondering if the White Room had sent assassins to drag him back.

Ayanokoji also keenly noticed that he was being watched.

Ayanokoji tilted his head to look over, seemingly trying to feign confusion.

You absolute NPC.

Chihaya Rei shifted his gaze to the person beside him; sitting with perfect posture and holding a book in hand was Horikita Suzune.

Her expression was cold, and her entire being radiated an aura that screamed, "Do not disturb me."

Just as Chihaya Rei withdrew his gaze, a cold, crisp voice laced with a questioning tone reached his ears first.

"You were looking at me just now. What is the meaning of this?"

Horikita Suzune had already looked up, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her red eyes staring at the boy before her with a hint of scrutiny.

Chihaya Rei: "?"

Listen to yourself, are those even human words?

Chihaya Rei pondered that he wasn't even on the same bus as her.

How could he trigger a plotline like this?

Any normal person, even if they had no intention of getting to know their neighbor, wouldn't ask a question that sounded like they were picking a fight just because they were glanced at, right?

Only someone as socially inept as Horikita Suzune would do such a thing.

It's no wonder netizens sharply critiqued you as a budget version of Yukinoshita.

Chihaya Rei couldn't help but shake his head.

Fine, let Horikita Suzune be the first blood shed after the activation of the Interrogation System.

"I did glance at you, and originally it meant nothing, but your response makes me find you somewhat laughable."

Hearing this, Horikita Suzune's furrowed brows tightened even further, and she placed her book on the desk, looking as if she would start hissing if things went south.

"You had better give me a reasonable explanation."

"I have no such obligation."

Narrowing his eyes to meet Horikita Suzune's gaze, Chihaya Rei didn't give her a pleasant look either, and he struck back without the slightest hesitation.

"But considering you don't even know where you went wrong, I don't mind offering you a word of advice."

"Heh, how high and mighty of you!"

Horikita Suzune said coldly.

"Likewise, and you're also suffering from an overinflated sense of self-importance."

Chihaya Rei retorted instantly.

For a moment, the two stared each other down, sharp as needles and opposing as blades.

Even Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt a flicker of curiosity, silently casting an observant gaze their way.

Horikita Suzune lost her patience first, her thin lips parting: "Don't waste my time."

"My thoughts exactly."

Chihaya Rei also offered his own reasoning:

"I wasn't just looking at you. As a new student who just arrived in a new class, I don't see anything wrong with observing the environment out of curiosity and getting to know the classmates sitting around me."

Horikita Suzune had been feeling quite displeased.

But upon hearing the latter part, her expression stiffened slightly, as if she had realized the logic in Chihaya Rei's words.

"Fine, I understand."

Her voice softened compared to before, and she immediately turned her head, intending to end the conversation.

However, Chihaya Rei had no intention of letting her off so easily.

"As for you, Horikita-san, are you actually reading that book seriously?"

Glancing at the book on Horikita Suzune's desk, Chihaya Rei began to analyze with sound logic.

"Crime and Punishment—shouldn't reading a literary classic like this require your full focus to understand the depth of the work?"

"How then did you have the spare capacity to be the first to notice me looking at you?"

"In that case, I have even more reason to suspect that you were the one looking at me first."

Horikita Suzune stared at Chihaya Rei, saying each word clearly:

"That is none of your business, and furthermore, I was not looking at you."

Horikita Suzune was not particularly surprised that Chihaya Rei had called out her surname; after all, everyone's names were written on the nameplates on their desks.

"It's none of my business, but do you really intend to just let it go like that?" Chihaya Rei countered with a question.

"What do you mean?"

A hint of confusion flickered in Horikita Suzune's eyes.

"You should apologize to me."

Chihaya Rei crossed his arms, his serious gaze slanted slightly toward Horikita Suzune as he emphasized the word "apologize."

"I was just observing the environment; I had no reason to be interrogated by you. It's quite obvious that you misunderstood something, and then, on your own accord, acted as if nothing had happened and went back to reading."

"Is that polite, Horikita-san?"

"Therefore, I don't believe this matter should just end so carelessly."

"..."

Horikita Suzune's expression held a trace of astonishment, and she fell into a brief silence.

Chihaya Rei, however, had no intention of giving Horikita Suzune time to think, and followed up with another jab:

"Are you going to stop talking just because you've encountered a difficult question?"

A ripple of emotion crossed Horikita Suzune's cold, composed face.

Her gaze shifted downward to look at Chihaya Rei's desk, as if she intended to properly memorize his name.

Horikita Suzune felt that Chihaya Rei was truly a troublesome guy.

Yet, deep down, she had to admit that he was right.

Just a moment ago, she had indeed been affected by the noisy atmosphere in the classroom. She had appeared to be focused on her book, but in reality, her mind had already wandered, which was why she had noticed him the instant Chihaya Rei looked her way.

Thinking of this, Horikita Suzune took a deep breath:

"I admit it, I was in the wrong just now. I apologize. Is that enough?"

"It is. I forgive you."

Horikita Suzune was at least decent enough to recognize her mistake and offer an honest apology.

After responding, Chihaya Rei turned his head back toward the front of the classroom, leaving Horikita Suzune with a profile that clearly said, "I don't want to deal with you."

However, he was in quite a good mood.

Giving Horikita Suzune a hard time was one thing.

More importantly, during the process of "grilling" her just now, several system notifications had rung out in his mind one after another.

[Successfully grilled Horikita Suzune, obtained 1015 Grilling Points]
[Successfully grilled Horikita Suzune, obtained 2233 Grilling Points]
[Successfully grilled Horikita Suzune, obtained 2233 Grilling Points]...
[Current Grilling Progress: 10%. A reward will be unlocked upon reaching 30%]

The mere fact that the progress bar had reached 10% put Chihaya Rei in a fantastic mood; he even felt that Horikita Suzune looked much more pleasant than before.

He was very much looking forward to seeing what kind of rewards he could unlock next.