The next period happened to be English with Mr. Yu.
He walked in through the front door looking as reluctant as always, with Shu Sha following right behind him. He was holding a thick stack of test papers, too.
Great… was he going to spring a pop quiz on us? Or announce the results from the last one? Maybe—just maybe—I'd break past the ten-point mark this time.
Xiao Qin was usually good at English, but with the way she'd been acting lately, even if she let me copy, I wouldn't dare.
"Mr. Yu… may I?"
After Shu Sha placed the stack of papers on the lectern, she didn't return to her seat. Instead, she formally addressed him, and he reluctantly nodded.
Only then did I realize—she was going to publicly criticize herself.
She bowed deeply, so deeply that her hair nearly brushed the floor.
"Everyone, I'm very sorry. I'm the class leader, yet I forgot my position and disrupted the lesson earlier. I should have immediately resigned as class leader…"
"But I gave in to Mr. Yu's insistence that I stay, so I can only shamelessly continue for a while…"
"If anyone wants to take over this job, I'll step down right away…"
Her head stayed lowered the entire time, her voice serious and sincere.
Across the room, Loud Mouth glared at me and jabbed her thumb toward the apologizing class leader: See? You said you'd never apologize? Look at her!
Watching Shu Sha humiliate herself like that made me blush.
Unbelievable—you can actually bow like that? I was the one who ruined the class in the first place. Why didn't you just blame me? Push everything onto me! Isn't that what leaders do?
You're the class leader—the boss of Class 2-3. We're your underlings. Since when does the boss bow to the underlings?
Is the justice in your heart really aimed at yourself the most?
Seriously… if you actually become a detective someday, you'll work yourself into an early grave.
When she finally finished, she lifted her head slightly, clearly hoping someone would volunteer to replace her.
Of course no one did. Leading Class 2-3 isn't a job—it's a combat mission. Just dealing with me would make anyone want to quit.
The awkwardness in the room grew so heavy that even Mr. Yu looked uncomfortable.
Suddenly, Loyal Dog Bro shouted miserably from the back row:
"Class leader, are you giving up on us?!"
That triggered the entire class.
"Don't! You've led us since freshman year—we're used to you!"
"Don't be discouraged! We support you!"
"So what if you're a little strict? You want us to end up like Class 1? Their class leader's a softie who lets everyone get bullied!"
"That's right! I heard a girl in Class 1 got bullied all year because their leader never did anything!"
"If you quit, we're the ones who'll get bullied!"
Just like that, the class broke out into a wave of support—plus the occasional "Haruya, go die!" which I'm sure came from some heroic individual in the back.
Poor Gong CaiCai, thinking this was all her fault, burst into tears right on the desk. Shu Sha panicked and had to comfort her.
Even Mr. Yu started pleading from the lectern, pretty much saying that if she quit, he might as well quit too.
In the end, Shu Sha agreed to continue being class leader—at least until we "found someone more suitable."
Yeah, right. As if anyone else could do it.
Honestly, the only other contender would be Loyal Dog Bro, but he'd die before running against her.
Next time she tries to resign, I'm going to raise my hand and say, "If she quits, I'll take the job!" I refuse to believe they'd let an actual delinquent run Class 2-3. That'd guilt-trip her for life.
After that mess ended, the English rep handed out our last test.
Six points. I actually got six. All of them were random guesses.
Why, China? Why didn't you conquer the world before I was born? If we were the only country around, I wouldn't have to learn this agonizing language.
Xiao Qin hadn't transferred in yet during that quiz, so she didn't get a test paper. Mr. Yu started explaining the answers on the board while I sneaked a look at her.
Why was I even nervous? Even if I grabbed the class leader's hand earlier, it wasn't like I cheated. It was self-defense! And it's not like I'm having some secret affair with Shu Sha… and even if I were, what does that have to do with Xiao Qin? At best, she's my childhood friend. I never agreed to be her boyfriend—it's all in her head! Why should I feel guilty?
I turned toward her with a slightly aggressive expression, expecting her usual jealous outburst.
But instead… she just quietly copied the notes from the board. Her face showed a faint sorrow that made my chest tighten a little.
She noticed me watching. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
The atmosphere felt suffocating, so—against my better judgment—I spoke first.
"Hey… what's with that face? Did I do something to you?"
Xiao Qin froze, then turned to me slowly, forcing a fragile smile.
"No… I won't be unhappy no matter what Haruya does."
Don't say things like that! Don't smile like everything's fine when you're crying on the inside! I'd rather you hit me like the Little Tyrant again!
"But… there's something I want to know." Her voice trembled. "Haruya… do you like the class leader?"
Her expression could make anyone pity her—but this was exactly the time when pity meant danger.
Gu Long once said men often fall in love out of pity.
If I waver now, I'll become Ren Xiaoqin's prisoner forever.
"Hmph. Even if I did like her, what's it to you?"
If I'd had a mirror, I'm sure I'd have seen a world-class scumbag staring back at me.
Xiao Qin let out a soft "oh" and lowered her head.
She slid her fingers into her side bangs, pretending to fix her hair, but really just hiding her eyes.
After a long silence, she whispered, as if the thought had just dawned on her:
"That's right… I'm not Haruya's girlfriend…"
"Even though I shamelessly cling to Haruya every day… it only makes him hate me more…"
"If I meddle in Haruya's personal relationships, he'll hate me even more…"
"So… maybe it's better if I just disappear…"
Ah—tears. Shining trails sliding down the back of her hand.
Not fair! You're not allowed to hit me with tears! I can't handle that!
"You—don't cry! I never said you should disappear!"
"But you did…" Her voice quivered. "On the first day of school… when I passed you that note… you said you wished I would disappear immediately…"
Huh? Did I really say that? I don't even remember! Do girls store this stuff in some permanent archive?!
"Hey, look, even if I said it, I didn't mean it."
Xiao Qin lifted her head, eyes wet, hopeful.
"T-Then… is it okay if I don't disappear yet?"
Her voice was like a tiny snowman pleading with the sun at the start of spring.
I couldn't say anything except nod.
That tiny nod gave her so much courage she wiped her tears away and even brightened a little.
"Thank you… then let me stay by Haruya's side a little longer before I disappear!"
What the hell is with this life-and-death drama? I'm not starring in a tragic romance with you! I need to change the mood—fast.
Right! The Bible. If things are going this off-the-rails, maybe something equally unreasonable will balance it out.
I pulled out the Traditional Chinese Old Testament from my bag and asked Xiao Qin to help me copy it into the checkered notebooks I bought, telling her the exact requirements.
She didn't even ask why I needed it. She looked like she'd just been handed the purpose of her existence.
That expression wasn't "pleased"—it was "on the verge of tears because of happiness."
Is it really that easy for her to swing between despair and joy?
I kind of felt guilty.
I didn't even mention the reward—though Ai Mi was supposed to pay her, and not a small amount, either.
It felt like I had become a shady contractor stealing a worker's wages.
I'd tell her later, in a place less emotionally explosive. Besides, Ai Mi hadn't even handed me the money yet.
"Hey, don't write too perfectly. Make it look a bit softer—more childish, like there's room to improve next time."
When she heard there'd be a "next time," Xiao Qin nodded happily and followed my instructions.
She finished the five pages of Traditional Chinese in no time. Judging by her ease, she'd written traditional characters before.
The five pages of Simplified were even faster—she converted them automatically as she wrote.
Her humanities skills were genuinely impressive.
Basically the opposite of mine.
When she finished, she double-checked the pages and presented them to me with both hands, waiting anxiously.
"What do you think?" she asked nervously. "Did I make any mistakes? Am I going to get spanked if I did?"
It was perfect—neat, but with just the right amount of childishness. Ai Mi's mother would never see through it.
And since Xiao Qin was talking about porn again, she'd clearly returned to normal.
Lucky me—my "normal" childhood friend talks about porn casually. What a life.
I nodded approvingly, and she beamed.
"H-Haruya… do I get a reward for copying everything?"
Yes. A big one. I'd pay her as soon as I gave the notebooks to Ai Mi.
I was trying to think of a way to phrase it without making it sound scandalous, but Xiao Qin spoke first.
"I don't want anything else. But… can Haruya please fix my mom's laptop tomorrow? Please?"
She clasped her hands together, eyes shining.
How was I supposed to refuse that?
Fine. Once I hand the notebooks to Ai Mi in the morning, I'll go fix Xiao Qin's computer in the afternoon.
Great. Can't even relax on a weekend.