In the face of Horikita Suzune's thoroughly "model honors student" speech, Wu Qiao wasn't surprised in the least. It really was the sort of thing she would say: meticulous, rational, and imbued with the resolve to sacrifice anything for her goal.
He glanced at her, his tone calm. "There's no need. I have my own plans, and I don't want to waste my time correcting your typical student mindset—the one that ties all value to moving up a class."
Horikita Suzune was stunned.
What stunned her wasn't just Wu Qiao's blunt rejection. The moment he said those words, she'd instinctively glanced at the system panel, only to see that his favorability score hadn't budged in the slightest.
Even people she rarely spoke with showed tiny fluctuations in favorability when she talked to them or passed judgment on them.
But Wu Qiao's reaction was like a pool of still water. Just like Ayanokoji Kiyoha and Kushida Kikyo, he seemed completely immune to these changes in social favorability.
While Horikita Suzune was still trying to process that unsettling calm, Wu Qiao had already stood up. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder. The gesture held nothing flirtatious or offensive; instead, it carried the ease and certainty of an older relative.
"Moving up a class can wait. Right now, I'd rather solve everyone's problem of having enough to eat." Wu Qiao looked at her, his gaze clear. "First, I'll help everyone climb out of this pit and live like decent human beings at this school. As for Class A... we're on different paths."
With that, he picked up his bag and walked out of the classroom without looking back.
Horikita Suzune stood frozen in place, the words "Moving up a class can wait. Right now, I'd rather solve everyone's problem of having enough to eat" echoing again and again in her mind.
In her understanding, everyone who came to Advanced Nurturing High School should have the same ultimate goal: to climb higher. Only by reaching Class A could they gain more points and privileges.
But Wu Qiao seemed to care more about everyone's present living conditions. Or rather, he placed living well ahead of moving up to Class A.
"Different paths...?"
Horikita Suzune murmured to herself, her gaze falling on the empty seat. For the first time, she realized that perhaps not everyone at this school was trapped in the same obsession with Class A as she was.
Watching Wu Qiao's retreating back, without a hint of reluctance, stirred an indescribable frustration in Horikita Suzune. She turned sharply, her gaze locking onto Ayanokoji Kiyoha, who had been watching the whole exchange and was about to leave.
"Stop!"
Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth, hurried over, grabbed Ayanokoji Kiyoha by the wrist, and forcibly pulled her to an empty corner of the hallway.
Faced with the sudden tug, Ayanokoji Kiyoha only tilted her head slightly. Confusion filled her delicate face, but she let herself be pulled along without resistance.
Horikita Suzune took a deep breath, trying to suppress her agitation, and looked straight at the unfathomable girl before her. "I know you and Wu Qiao are close. If you don't want to help me, I won't force you. But please tell me how I'm supposed to deal with Wu Qiao."
Ayanokoji Kiyoha blinked. Her eyes were crystal clear, and her tone as bland as a glass of water. "Why? Wu-kun has his own plans."
Ayanokoji Kiyoha had come to this school for a simple reason: she wanted nothing more than a peaceful school life. It was what she truly wanted, and what Wu Qiao had promised her.
She was thoroughly enjoying her life now, without having to scheme against others or worry about anyone scheming against her.
Since Wu Qiao had already stepped in to handle Class D's messes, she was more than happy to take it easy. She absolutely didn't want to cause him any trouble.
Seeing that Ayanokoji Kiyoha wouldn't be swayed, Horikita Suzune felt a surge of frustration. She glared at the other girl, clenching her teeth, and finally forced a concession through them. "Just tell me. If you do, I'll stop bothering you!"
Faced with Horikita Suzune's near-desperate insistence, Ayanokoji Kiyoha simply shook her head calmly.
"I don't know," she answered softly, then added a condition that left Horikita Suzune dumbfounded. "Unless... Wu-kun promises something himself."
Her words were like an invisible wall, turning back all of Horikita Suzune's attempts to sound her out. She stood there, staring at Ayanokoji Kiyoha's impassive face, and finally realized how ridiculous she must look to the two of them—like a child trying to shove a mountain aside by force.
"Fine. Very well." Horikita Suzune let go, took a deep breath, and strode down the hallway.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha remained where she was. She rubbed the faint red mark on her wrist and watched Horikita Suzune walk away, sighing helplessly.
She just wanted to quietly blend into the background. Why was that so hard?
At night, the dormitory area was quiet. Ayanokoji Kiyoha made her way to Wu Qiao's door as if she knew the way by heart and knocked.
The door opened soon after, and she stepped inside. As soon as she entered, her eyes were drawn to an elegant glass container on the table. It held small pieces of fruit that gleamed enticingly in the dim light.
Wu Qiao casually brewed a cup of tea and handed it to her. Ayanokoji Kiyoha took the cup and sipped. The warm tea slid down her throat, bringing a touch of comfort.
Wu Qiao eyed her unusual behavior and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Ayanokoji Kiyoha set down her teacup and recounted everything that had just happened: Horikita Suzune had grabbed her and pressed her for answers. By the end, she sounded a little exasperated with the girl's obsession with moving up a class.
After listening, Wu Qiao simply nodded, his tone unruffled. "Don't worry about her. I'll handle it."
Hearing the familiar reply, Ayanokoji Kiyoha nodded obediently. When Chabashira Sae had approached her last time, Wu Qiao had said the same thing. She trusted that he could handle it, and that he knew where to draw the line.
Now that they'd dealt with the serious matter, her curiosity finally got the better of her. She stared at the glass container and couldn't help asking, "What's that?"
Wu Qiao followed her gaze and smiled unconcernedly. "Fruit wine. What, want to try some?"
Ayanokoji Kiyoha's eyes brightened slightly, but she hesitated. She looked at the teacup in her hand, then at the glass container filled with fruit, as if weighing her options.
"May I?" she asked softly, with a hint of anticipation in her voice.
Wu Qiao raised his eyebrows, seemingly amused by her reaction. He stood, walked over to the table, and picked up the glass container. Using a small spoon, he scooped up a piece of fruit soaked in wine and held it to Ayanokoji Kiyoha's lips.
"Open up."
Ayanokoji Kiyoha obediently opened her mouth and took the fruit. The sweet-and-sour wine burst across her tongue, carrying a pleasantly warm, tipsy feeling that made her eyes narrow.
"Is it good?" Wu Qiao asked softly, watching her expression.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha nodded, her cheeks puffing slightly as she swallowed the fruit. She looked up at Wu Qiao, satisfaction in her eyes.
"Mhm, it's delicious," she said softly. "Thank you, Wu-kun."
Wu Qiao smiled easily at her adorable expression. And for Ayanokoji Kiyoha, simply being beside him, even doing nothing at all, was a rare kind of peace.