"Aotian, you've got such a sleazy grin."
"Ah! Oh." Long Aotian stopped when he heard that. Lately, he'd been showing off this villainous grin all the time, and he wasn't sure why.
"Let's get back to what we were talking about. People like Kushida are complicated. She enjoys interacting with others and is good at using her charm and influence to make new friends."
"She hopes to achieve certain goals by making friends, like improving her social standing or gathering more information."
"Don't be fooled by how warm and sincere Kushida Kikyo always seems when interacting with people. She has a hidden side. When no one's around, she vents her emotions—that's what happened when we went outside the dorm last time. She might even betray her class to achieve her goals. That shows that in certain situations, she might sacrifice friendship for personal gain."
"Society is the same. Everyone has two sides, good and evil, or strengths and weaknesses."
"Do you know why Class D is called the defective class? I'm not insulting you, of course, so don't get the wrong idea."
Afraid Sakura might misunderstand, Long Aotian quickly added a few more words.
"I don't know."
Sakura shook her head. Maybe it was too deep for her, or perhaps she hadn't had much experience with friends. It was perfectly normal that she didn't understand.
"The real reason is that they don't know how to hide their flaws. Of course, some people might simply be stupid, while others are clever but can't hide their evil or shortcomings—or even exaggerate them."
"Of course, no one is perfect. Even I have my problems. So why didn't the school put me in Class D? Because they don't know about them. They only think I'm capable and should be in Class A."
"For example, Horikita Suzune is quite capable, but she's aloof. She confuses being alone with being proud and thinks everyone else is a nuisance, so she only considers herself and rejects other people."
"Although Kushida Kikyo is sociable, she doesn't truly care about others."
"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was even called the most defective student in Class D by our homeroom teacher. He's emotionally numb, has no feelings, and treats everyone as a tool. He'll do whatever it takes to win."
"These things about them are obvious, but they're exceptionally good at studying, and they're capable in other ways, too."
"And their behavior and personalities are so obvious that people can exploit them or find ways to deal with them."
Long Aotian pointed at Sakura. "Take you, for example. If I dealt with you the way I used to deal with people, you might be in for a rough time. I'd exploit your shy, timid personality and use that incident with your idol and online fame to threaten you and get what I wanted. Since you're the type who wouldn't fight back, I could get even more out of you."
"But Kushida Kikyo is different. She'd only try to escape my control, and might even turn the tables and threaten me."
"When you're dealing with someone rebellious like that, you have to act fast. Either cut them off at the root or lay an even bigger trap and send them into the abyss."
"Of course, there's no real definition of a good or bad personality. People only consider something bad when it threatens their interests or safety."
PS: Class placement at the school isn't determined by grades alone. Personality, behavior, and many other factors also play a part.
"Ah! Me?"
Sakura was utterly confused. The only thing she understood was that Long Aotian had said he'd threaten her to get what he wanted.
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
Seeing that Sakura's brain might be about to overheat, Long Aotian walked over to her and gently placed his strong, warm hands on her temples.
He massaged them lightly, applying just the right amount of pressure—not too hard, but enough to help.
It was probably better not to keep talking. Even he was starting to spout nonsense.
"Feeling better?"
Long Aotian watched as Sakura's brows gradually relaxed and asked softly.
"Better." Sakura nodded, closed her eyes, and slowly enjoyed his massage.
A little while later, just as Long Aotian was about to pull his hands away, Sakura instinctively caught his hand. She opened her eyes, a faint blush on her face. "Keep going for a little longer."
Long Aotian froze for a moment, then smiled and continued massaging her.
After a while, Sakura seemed to gather her courage and spoke up. "Aotian, could you stay with me tonight instead of leaving?"
Long Aotian was startled. He hadn't expected her to say that. Looking into Sakura's hopeful eyes, he found himself nodding before he knew it.
Sakura's face lit up when Long Aotian agreed.
Long Aotian, on the other hand, felt a little awkward. He'd never spent the night alone in a room with a girl before.
"You must be hungry. I'll make us something to eat." Long Aotian broke the silence and headed for the kitchen. Sakura followed, curiously watching him bustle around.
Long Aotian opened the fridge and saw that there wasn't much food, but he did his best to cobble together a few dishes. As he cooked, he kept sneaking glances at Sakura. She rested her chin in her hands, watching him with bright eyes. His heart fluttered, and he found himself moving a little faster.
Before long, the simple meal was ready. The two sat down at the table, and the mood grew a little awkward. Long Aotian was the first to speak, telling her some lighthearted stories from his previous life. Sakura giggled as she listened, and the tension gradually faded.
After the meal, Long Aotian returned to his dorm, took a shower, and brought his computer back with him.
The two sat on the floor and watched TV on Long Aotian's computer. Before long, Sakura fell asleep against his shoulder. Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, Long Aotian felt a warmth in his heart. He gently carried her to the bed and tucked her in, then sat by her side, thinking about how their relationship had changed. He quietly vowed that no matter what the future held, he would protect the girl beside him.
Night fell, and the two lay side by side in bed. Sakura tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Long Aotian noticed her unease and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Sakura moved a little closer to him, and a subtle tension spread through the room.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window. When Long Aotian woke, he looked at Sakura, still fast asleep, and felt a strange tenderness well up inside him.
He knew that after this night, they had grown closer. He got out of bed as quietly as he could and went to prepare breakfast for Sakura.
Long Aotian bustled around the kitchen, taking care not to make a sound. Just as breakfast was nearly ready, Sakura woke up.
She wandered sleepily into the kitchen and saw Long Aotian's back. A warm feeling filled her heart.
"Morning," Sakura said with a yawn.
"Morning. Go brush your teeth and wash your face, then come have breakfast." Long Aotian set the food on the table.
Before long, the two were happily eating breakfast together. How cozy!
PS: Thanks to user 11329739 for the lovely gift!
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