"You go to a private comprehensive high school too?"
On the way, Lin Zhi couldn't help but study Rikka Takanashi with a doubtful look.
From what he knew, private comprehensive high schools usually only accepted top-performing students—though there were exceptions, like Eriri Kashiwagi, who were admitted for their special talents.
Could it be… this chuunibyou girl actually had good grades?
Impossible, right?
Well… maybe not entirely impossible.
Seeing Lin Zhi's eyes on her, Rikka suddenly took a step back, assuming a defensive stance. Her brows lifted, body slightly crouched, arms crossed in front of her as she stared at Lin Zhi with exaggerated caution.
"Heh heh… So it's true! Servant, you've already been controlled by the Holy Regulator, haven't you? But to raise your hand against your Master—that's absolutely forbidden!"
Her voice rose dramatically, face glowing with the confidence of someone who believed she'd seen through the ultimate truth of the world.
But the next instant, Rikka's expression shifted in panic. She stumbled back and yelped, "Wait—no, no—!"
Thud!
It was as if the air itself trembled with a dull impact. Shouko Nishimiya, watching nearby, covered her mouth in surprise.
Lin Zhi lowered his hand expressionlessly. The girl now stood before him, clutching her head in grievance.
"Can't you take anything seriously?" Lin Zhi sighed, watching Rikka with mild exasperation. Her chuunibyou tendencies were apparently carved deep into her very soul.
Nishimiya just stood quietly beside them, a faint smile playing at her lips as she watched the scene unfold.
"Hmph!"
At Lin Zhi's words, Rikka's pitiful expression vanished. She puffed out her chest proudly and raised her chin, her tone full of self-importance. "I'll have you know—I got a perfect score on the national language exam!"
Both Lin Zhi and Nishimiya looked at her in genuine surprise.
"Perfect score? You?" Lin Zhi asked, stunned. His voice was filled with disbelief.
"Hmph! That's right! This is the supreme power mastered by your Master!"
"Oh, so that's what a 'supreme power' is?" Lin Zhi said with mock realization. Then he shot her a sidelong glance. "In that case, I must have reached the pinnacle of supreme power myself—perfect scores in language, science, English, and math!"
"What?!"
Rikka's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in shock.
Lin Zhi pretended not to notice, mumbling thoughtfully to himself, "Although… I did lose a few points in social studies."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned to Rikka with a teasing smile. "So, Miss Master, how developed are your other supreme powers?"
Rikka swallowed hard.
Damn it!
She'd completely forgotten—this guy was a special recruit! The school had gone all the way to Akita to bring him in. Of course his grades were exceptional!
Had she just humiliated herself?!
Without another word, Rikka suddenly looked ahead and quickened her pace. "We're almost late for class. We should hurry."
Lin Zhi exchanged a glance with Nishimiya, and both couldn't help but laugh.
Chuunibyou, huh?
He shook his head.
Rikka really was a student at the private comprehensive high school, though she belonged to Class D—one floor above Class A. No wonder they hadn't run into each other before.
The next day marked the start of regular lessons. The easygoing days were over, replaced by the dull rhythm of academic grind.
High school material was far tougher than junior high—many considered it the most painful stretch of their school lives.
When the bell rang signaling the end of the morning classes, the long-awaited lunch break arrived.
Japanese high schools generally didn't have cafeterias, so students usually brought their own lunches. Some would buy strange things from the school shop—like yakisoba bread, for instance.
Lin Zhi sat with his two new friends, eating from their lunch boxes while chatting idly.
"Huh? Kirito, you have a little sister?" Lin Zhi and Kusuo Saiki both looked up in surprise.
Kirito scratched his head and nodded. "Yeah. Her name's Suguha. I'll introduce you two someday."
Then his gaze fell on Lin Zhi's lunch, eyes lighting up. "If I remember right, Lin Zhi, you live alone, don't you?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then you made that lunch yourself? That's some impressive cooking!"
"Agreed," Saiki said, nodding approvingly.
Lin Zhi smiled modestly. "It's nothing special. My parents are busy working the fields most of the time, so I learned to cook for myself."
Then he froze, frowning slightly as he turned to Saiki. "Wait… Saiki, did you just speak?"
Saiki's expression stiffened, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
Kirito looked puzzled. "Of course he did. What are you talking about, Lin Zhi?"
"Ah… maybe I imagined it," Lin Zhi said with a laugh, though a trace of doubt lingered in his eyes.
He could've sworn Saiki's lips hadn't moved just now.
"Maybe you're just seeing things," Kirito chuckled, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"Maybe…" Lin Zhi murmured, but his gaze lingered on Saiki, who suddenly looked unusually tense.
Those calm eyes kept darting toward him—curious, probing.
Lin Zhi smiled faintly, hiding his suspicion as he quietly opened his system interface and pulled up the character card.
[Name: Kusuo Saiki]
[Occupation: Student, Esper]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Threat Level: S]
Lin Zhi: "..."
I knew it wasn't that simple.
His lips twitched uncontrollably. Just what kind of ridiculous world was he living in?
He'd forgotten to check yesterday, but now it was clear—this new "friend" of his wasn't just strong… he was insanely strong.
Normally, the average person or even a minor ability user would only register as an F-level threat.
But S-level?
That was on par with Gabriel the angel.
So much for a normal school life…
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T/N:
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