"Shin-san, the script outline you wrote is excellent! But there are a few points I think we should revise..."
On Monday morning, Shin arrived at the classroom, his head feeling like a heavy stone, only to be greeted by Aki Tomoya's rapid-fire questions.
Shin was too lazy to say much, only responding with "mmhmm." Having taken off the Dawn Lord suit, he felt like he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Although he hadn't always worn the full set of Dawn Lord gear, he usually wore a large portion of the fantasy suit under his school uniform.
So, while he wasn't constantly maintaining that state of absolute calm, he was able to let rationality dominate his emotions most of the time.
That feeling was wonderful. There were no distracting emotions, no excessive love or hatred. Both positive and negative emotions were suppressed beneath rationality, appearing only when needed.
Most importantly, it helped him overcome the anxiety in Shin's heart.
But the System was right. He couldn't maintain this abnormal state forever. Shin, who obediently took off the suit at the System's suggestion, was now in withdrawal.
He hadn't slept well last night, tormented by nightmares all night. The key was that he woke up having forgotten the content of the nightmares.
"But Shin-san, did you offend Senpai somehow?"
Aki Tomoya asked somewhat confusedly.
"Senpai asked me out yesterday afternoon to look at the script, and she said a lot of bad things about Shin-san."
"Really? Maybe I said too much, like about your relationship with her," Shin rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling irritated.
"I don't want to get involved in your business, kid! That girl named Sawamura and Kasumigaoka-senpai both like you, right? Then you should make it clear! You'll get karma for treating people as tools. Or if you like Kato Megumi, just go for it! Stop being so indecisive!"
Shin didn't want to hear any more of these foolish teenage angst-ridden relationship problems.
Aki Tomoya's face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead. He argued, "How can helping a friend be called using them as a tool? Can pursuing a dream be called exploitation?"
He continued with incomprehensible phrases like "wonderful encounter" and "best GALGAME," which only irritated Shin more.
If not for the fact that this kid was useful as a promotional tool, Shin would have slapped him.
"Shin-kun, do you have a cold?"
Kotonoha, who was nearby, asked with concern. Shin shook his head and sighed.
"Just a headache... I didn't sleep well yesterday."
He hadn't slept well, he hadn't slept at all. The nightmares tortured him all night.
"Ah, I see. If you really can't bear it, you should go home. I'll ask the teacher for leave for you."
Shin shook his head, looking at Kotonoha's concerned eyes, forcing a smile.
"It's fine, it's just a small matter..."
Just then, a girl with messy braids and black-framed glasses walked over, head lowered, and sat in the seat in front of Shin.
She kept her head down and didn't dare to look at Shin. Whenever Shin's gaze swept toward her, she trembled in fear.
After seven days, Saki finally dared to return to school.
After being severely frightened that day, Saki had shut herself in for seven days. Her bright, hopeful life as a riajuu (a person with a fulfilling social life) had been crushed before it even began.
Saki couldn't imagine what she would have been like if she had actually drunk that cup of juice.
So she reverted to her original self. Perhaps she wasn't ready for a true riajuu life.
Logically, she should thank Shin; he had genuinely saved her life. But forget thanking him in person, Saki couldn't even bear to recall that scene.
Every time she closed her eyes late at night, Saki would recall Shin's face—handsome, yet wearing a false smile, concealing boundless indifference beneath.
Like the light of dawn sinking into the darkness, it attracts moths to its dazzling light, only to pull them into the deepest darkness before dawn.
Every time she recalled those eyes, Saki would curl up in her blankets and... wet herself.
She had mustered the courage to come back to school today, intending to thank Shin in person. But as soon as she was near him, Saki's legs instinctively felt weak.
Shin rubbed his throbbing temples, looking at Saki, who was trembling with her back to him. He sighed.
"Why are you so afraid of me, Yoshida-san? I didn't do anything to you, did I?"
"Eek! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!"
Saki jumped up as if her knee-jerk reflex had been triggered, tearfully bowing continuously towards Shin.
"Look at Yoshida-san. Is she being bullied by that guy?"
"It must be. Who stays home for seven days after school starts? And look at her now, she's clearly being coerced."
"I also heard that Shin is related to the Yakuza, and is a mafia heir..."
Shin's mouth twitched. The stares and whispers from all directions made his headache worse.
The events of that brief moment had inevitably spread. It wasn't the people present who spread it, but rather Shin being seen by other students when he went up against the delinquent, Inugami Hayato.
The favorite pastime of high school students at this age is gossip. One person tells ten, ten tells a hundred, and in seven days, the rumors were twisted beyond recognition.
To be fair, it wasn't pure rumor-mongering, as Shin did beat up the person. Combined with the delinquents he violently beat, his fierce reputation wasn't unfounded.
Shin didn't even know what his image was in the rumors. In short, very few people in the school dared to approach him now. Even the arrogant delinquents retreated when they saw him.
It wasn't purely bad or purely good. Shin had fewer troubles, but this reputation could also attract bigger problems.
"Whatever," he sighed, and left the classroom. His throbbing head was unbearable; he needed a place to quiet down.
Kotonoha watched Shin leave, opening her mouth but putting her hand down. She heard the girls' whispers behind her. Kotonoha's expression was somewhat dimmed.
She still couldn't understand Shin's intentions.
Did he like her, or dislike her? Was he just a friend, or...
The fragile and sensitive mind of a teenage girl was filled with foolish overthinking. Shin had never paid attention to such things, so he also overlooked Kotonoha's situation.
"Kotonoha-san, Kotonoha-san, are you free at noon today?"
A bright, beautiful girl with black hair suddenly approached Kotonoha, blinking her big eyes seriously.
"Saionji-san..." Kotonoha offered her usual polite smile and said softly,
"Coincidentally, Saionji-san, I also have something I want to talk to you about."
This was one of the few people she considered close to a "friend," and this person had initiated the friendship.
Saionji Sekai glanced back at the cowering Makoto, sighed, and turned back to smile.
"Okay, let's meet on the rooftop at noon today."
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