"Ah, yeah… I'll give it a try."
Startled for a mont, Horikita Suzune nodded lightly as she listened to Kushida Kikyo's rare words of acknowledgnt instead of mockery.
Even if it wasn't the recognition she most wanted—from her brother—it was still… recognition from a friend, right?
"Then I'll leave it to you." Raising an eyebrow, Kushida caught the fact that Horikita hadn't realized she had just casually pushed the "diary analysis" work onto her. Without giving her ti to think, she smoothly changed the topic.
"The 'noble boy' is probably Kanzaki Ryuji. As for the mascot, I think it's Shirahata Chihiro."
"As for the 'baby'… I'd guess it's Ibuki Mio."
The mont she said that, Horikita froze.
"How do you know?"
She couldn't extract any identifying traits from that description, yet Kushida had figured it out instantly?
…The difference in ability was way too obvious.
"He said he wasn't going to talk about Class D, and he hasn't ntioned… Class A either. So far, he hasn't talked about upperclassn either, so the scope is limited to Classes B and C." Resting her chin on her hand, Kushida explained calmly. "He wasn't going to continue with Class B, and I can't think of anyone there who fits the description."
"So if you shift your focus to Class C, the answer cos quickly."
"'Blowbaby,' 'Ibuki Mio'—there's only one person with 'Ibuki' in their na."
She had simply identified her by na.
By scanning through the first-year roster in her mory, she had arrived at the answer.
"…I don't know her." After a pause, Horikita shook her head. "But his description wasn't exactly flattering."
"Picking fights with everyone but losing to everyone," and "looks tough but would cry if beaten"—the sarcasm was obvious.
"…Has he ever given anyone a good evaluation?" Kushida rolled her eyes. "Oh, except for the 'NPC' he said he liked."
"But if he's calling soone an 'NPC,' it's hard to say that's a complint."
She had no desire to be liked by him.
If anything, Kushida would rather he forget about her entirely—just like he seed to be doing lately—abandoning his earlier obsession with the "two-faced girl" and shifting his attention to the "little princess."
Better Sakayanagi than her.
…Though, about the special exam… should she remind Asakusa?
No, better not. It was vague information anyway—no ti, no details. Not worth sharing.
"So, what do you think?" Lying on the table, Kushida asked lazily. "Feel like you've learned more about other people's secrets?"
"But what's the point?"
Yeah. What's the point?
Other than satisfying a rather ugly sense of curiosity, it wasn't even as rewarding as making soone call her "mom" a few more tis.
For a mont, Kushida seed to enter a kind of post-excitent lull.
"…It helps understand myself better," Horikita said quietly.
Her understanding of the world was still shallow. Her understanding of others was still flat. Everything she had seen so far was only surface-level.
Just like Kushida—everyone had another side.
Through the diary's comntary, she could see more of people.
So it was useful.
…That was what Horikita wanted to say. But she lacked confidence.
After all, this was her own matter. Forcing Kushida to stay on the call and then insisting it was aningful…
She couldn't quite bring herself to do that.
"Th-that's enough!" she blurted, raising her voice. "Thank you for answering today. Let's stop here!"
"—Good night!"
Her finger pressed firmly on the hang-up button.
"Beep beep beep—" The busy tone sounded, and only then did Horikita let out a breath.
She glanced at her silent phone, then reached out again, picking up the diary and lifting it.
Her gaze followed it upward.
"..."
She didn't open it again. She just stared at it for several minutes until her arms grew sore, then lowered it.
"…What's the point?"
She still couldn't answer that question.
Trying to stir up emotions on her own… was still difficult.
A calm, uneventful, yet boring school life.
…Special exam, hurry up and co.
...
Asakusa Toru also wanted the uninhabited island exam to arrive soon.
But before that, there were still two unresolved matters.
One was Sakura Airi's stalker fan—the one he had originally planned to write about in his diary but ultimately replaced with "Ibuki Baby."
The guy who had recognized her identity as a gravure idol, convinced himself it was fate, and indulged in disgusting fantasies.
As long as that guy remained, Toru couldn't relax.
Besides, his "staff" identity could be exploited.
Perfect for squeezing so compensation out of the school—at least give his existence so value.
The other issue was the White Gym.
As everyone knew, the White Gym had three instructors.
Private assistant instructor Amasawa Ichika, the forgettable trainer Simarc, and the strongest pseudo-human instructor—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Toru had already experienced the first two firsthand.
But the last one… he had yet to challenge.
…Because he forgot.
Ahem.
At the ti, after finishing Simarc, he simply didn't have the willpower to go for a second round.
So he postponed it.
And that postponent lasted nearly a month.
He had basically forgotten about it.
Well, not entirely—he still attended Amasawa's sessions occasionally.
But Amasawa was Amasawa. Ayanokoji was Ayanokoji.
It was about ti to see just how monstrous that "pseudo-human" really was.
But before that…
Check the reward.
[Daily record complete. Evaluation: C. Drawing reward…]
[Draw successful. Congratulations, you obtained item: Plain Glasses]
[Na: Plain Glasses]
[Category: Item]
[Effect: When worn, familiar people will mistake you for an unremarkable stranger]
[Note: "If you act too out of place, they'll still realize it's you."]
A pair of black-frad glasses—similar to Sakura Airi's—appeared in his hand.
The rating and effect were about what he expected. A small but potentially useful tool.
Though at the mont, he couldn't think of a good use for it.
After all, it only caused "misrecognition," not actual disguise.
If soone reviewed footage carefully, they'd still identify him.
Compared to fully covering oneself like Kushida—with hoodies, masks, layers upon layers—this item's advantage was that it could be used instantly.
As for the effect only applying to "familiar people"…
Well, that wasn't really a problem.
Strangers already saw him as a stranger anyway.
Too bad it wasn't universal—otherwise, he could've played assassin.
Whatever. Not important right now.
Back to the two issues.
For Sakura, he'd talk to her tomorrow and co up with a proper plan. As a fan of "Shizuku," it wouldn't be strange for him to bring it up.
After all, that guy had been openly leaving disgusting comnts on her blog.
It was unpleasant just to look at.
As for the "ultimate masterpiece"…
Now was the ti.
An all-nighter.
At 365x ti flow, tonight was enough.
He took out the headband, tied the word "Perseverance" across his forehead, paused for a mont, and steadied his mindset—ensuring his determination was at its peak.
Then he closed his eyes and murmured,
"My goal is to complete all courses in the White Gym before sunrise."
He didn't say he would defeat Ayanokoji. Instead, he set a broader goal—"all courses."
That way, even hidden stages would be included.
If his determination wasn't enough, or the goal too vague, the headband would slip off.
A few seconds passed.
The headband stayed firmly in place.
Success.
His tension eased, replaced by calm resolve. With a blink, the mbership card appeared in his hand, and the surroundings shifted.
A pure white world descended once more.
And then—
Toru pushed open the door where the "pseudo-human" waited.
Co on. Let's see how you compare to those overpowered city legends.
"Whoosh—"
As the door opened, wind rushed through the widening gap.
The pseudo-human's emotionless eyes moved. Though his face remained expressionless, his body had already taken a combat stance.
The mont Toru stepped past the threshold—
Ayanokoji launched forward like an arrow.
"—"
What the hell?! He heard the air tearing!
Not just that—he even caught a glimpse of cracks spidering across the floor where Ayanokoji had pushed off, only to be instantly repaired.
…Wait. Where did this floor even co from?
Toru suddenly realized—this room was simulated.
From the tiles beneath his feet to the ceiling above—even the walls reacted like a real environnt.
Which ant—
He could asure the destructive power.
"Boom—"
With killing intent locked onto him, Toru's thoughts raced. His body twisted instinctively.
The punch that should have smashed his face instead struck the steel door behind him.
A heavy impact rang out, leaving a deep dent before instantly repairing itself.
Terrifying.
Even if it healed, that power was etched into his mind.
What kind of monster is this?!
If he hadn't worn the headband, that single hit would've ended him.
Forget graduating—he'd rather go bully Amasawa than fight this thing.
But the headband was on.
"Perseverance" burned across his forehead.
That ant his determination was enough to grow—fast enough to match this humanoid tyrannosaur.
So there was nothing to fear.
Dodge, evade, retreat—no escape—trade blows. The pseudo-human's overwhelming force coursed through his body.
He lost the first round.
But without hesitation, Toru extended his hand toward the reset Ayanokoji.
"—Again!"
If it were just endless beatdowns, he would never win.
But the White Gym wasn't just about getting hit.
Every blow tempered his body. Every strike scattered fragnts of experience and technique.
Insight sharpened. Muscle mory engraved itself.
Otherwise, what kind of "training" would this be?
Toru wasn't here to be a prisoner. He was here as a mber.
Growth was the point.
As long as his determination held, he would keep pushing.
"..."
Fists and kicks clashed again and again, carving pieces out of Ayanokoji.
And then—
A final exchange. Equal violence. A fair fight.
In Advanced Nurturing High, he had beco a human tyrannosaur.
Just like that very first fight long ago, Toru clenched his fist and t Ayanokoji's incoming punch head-on.
But this ti—
He didn't need to dodge.
He wouldn't be crushed.
At this level, a mutual-destruction victory was easy.
Trading damage was the most unstoppable tactic of all.
"Boom—"
The sound of air breaking echoed through the room once more.
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