Chapter Three: What Should I Do If I Look Too Fierce?

"Ahem, everyone, please quiet down..." In Class 3, Grade 10 of Wuyang Private High School, a middle-aged teacher with a prematurely bald, Mediterranean-style hairline stood at the podium, his voice brimming with youthful energy as he addressed the students below, "Today, our class will be welcoming a new transfer student. Make sure to get along with him!"

"Oh!!" The students responded enthusiastically with a chorus of agreement.

"Now, let's greet our new classmate with screams and applause!" The teacher adjusted his round glasses perched on his nose and, with a dramatic flourish, gestured toward the classroom door.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh..." As a slender, fair hand slowly opened the door, the lively voices in the class abruptly ceased.

A beam of light—or rather, a bald head—emerged expressionlessly from behind the door, slowly making its way to the podium and giving a terse wave. Judging by his features alone, the bald boy could be considered handsome, but for some reason, the bald head utterly transformed his appearance.

If only his brows and eyes were paired with hair, he might have seemed merely listless. But now, he looked fierce and intimidating, like a wild beast on the prowl.

"Haha, this is our new transfer student. Please introduce yourself, oh, I almost forgot—I should introduce myself first. I am your language teacher and homeroom teacher, Kazuo Matsushita." Matsushita rattled off his words, then watched as the bald youth turned slightly, casting an oblique glance at him. Instantly, Matsushita shuddered:

Did I do something wrong to anger this guy? Is he going to beat me up right here? Will he drag me behind the gym after school for a lesson? I’ve been welcoming enough, haven’t I? What should I do? I’m doomed!

Aoki Shi, naturally, was unaware of the stormy psychological drama playing out in the smiling middle-aged man's mind. Still disgruntled about his forcibly shaved hairstyle—this bald head was even worse than his previous mop of blond hair! Who knew a simple haircut could make him look like a villain straight out of a movie, despite his decent features!

"Ah..." Clearing his throat, and seeing the fearful expressions on the boys and girls before him, Aoki Shi’s lips twitched. "My name is Aoki Shi."

He had prepared several things to say about himself, but faced with these ghost-stricken faces, all he wanted was to find a corner to hide in.

"Ahahahaha!" Matsushita suddenly burst out with exaggerated laughter, all eyes in the room instantly focusing on him, including Aoki Shi.

The moment Aoki Shi looked at him, cold sweat poured from Matsushita’s brow: What now? I was just trying to lighten the mood, but this guy looks ready to hit me! I need to smooth things over, fast!

"Well, Aoki Shi is a very nice name. And your head shape, Aoki, is so round and beautiful."

Awkwardness. Silence.

Matsushita was doomed! Nearly every student in the room saw the veins bulging on Aoki Shi’s smooth forehead.

Aoki Shi slowly turned his head, took a deep breath, and looked at Matsushita with the same icy expression. "Teacher, may I take my seat now?" He truly didn’t know what expression to wear. He was desperate inside—what could he do about being so intimidating? He was just as miserable as anyone else!

"Please!" Bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle, Matsushita performed a textbook welcoming gesture, looking every bit the hotel doorman, inviting Aoki Shi to proceed.

Aoki Shi gazed at the middle-aged teacher’s sparsely haired scalp, made visible by the deep bow, and, recalling his own premature balding before thirty, patted Matsushita’s shoulder sympathetically. "Teacher, you’re too kind. I’m just an ordinary student, there’s no need for such formality."

No, you’re not! Nearly everyone in the class thought this in silent agreement.

Seeing the empty seat by the window in the last row, Aoki Shi naturally walked over, sat down, and began unpacking his textbooks.

As he lowered his head to arrange his books, Matsushita let out an awkward “ha, ha, ha,” then assumed a serious demeanor. "Now, let’s begin class. Please open your textbooks to page twenty."

The other students opened their books while furtively glancing at Aoki Shi.

"That guy really is a delinquent..."

"Yeah, sitting so expertly in the last row. He must be."

"Isn’t that seat supposed to be Tiger Maeda’s…"

"Can he beat Tiger Maeda?"

"Shh, keep your voice down, don’t let him hear."

"Bald guys are always strong, at least that’s what anime teaches us…"

Is there something odd about their gazes? Aoki Shi looked up in confusion, only to see a scene of harmonious, focused study—everyone stared straight ahead at their textbooks, silent.

Even Matsushita seemed to be doing the same.

Ah, perhaps it was a Wuyang High tradition to silently study before class began? Aoki Shi took out his textbook, nodded in satisfaction, flipped to page twenty, and followed suit.

"He’s definitely plotting how to teach the teacher a lesson without leaving any evidence. When he patted the teacher’s shoulder, was it a signal? Is it like that story from Journey to the West, hinting at a time to meet behind the school?"

"Shh, I told you to keep your voice down. Don’t look at him, we nearly got caught just now."

"Why isn’t the teacher starting the lesson? I don’t dare move, my arm’s getting sore..."

"Is the teacher... crying?"

Beside two whispering students, Matsushita’s cold sweat poured like rain, his expression contorted: Should I call the police? Should I go now?

[Hidden task: Delinquent Arrival completed. Please check your reward.]

[Delinquent Arrival: Make everyone in the class aware you’re a delinquent. Rewards based on completion. Completion: Perfect. Reward: Delinquent Random Experience Card x1.]

Aoki Shi’s eyes widened as he stared at the suddenly completed task, utterly bewildered. “Huh?”

Me? I didn’t do anything!

Is it really this easy to become a delinquent?

Seeing Aoki Shi’s suddenly wide eyes, Matsushita, about to begin the lesson, froze mid-motion. After a few seconds’ thought, he had a flash of inspiration: "Today’s language class will be a self-study period. You may arrange your own time. I have some business in the teacher’s office!"

"Takashi, you’ll be in charge!" With that, Matsushita snapped his textbook shut and bolted from the classroom.

A beautiful girl with long blue hair, blue eyes, and an angelic face rose with a smile. "Let’s self-study, then. Aoki, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I’m the class president, Shinmi Takashi."

Oh ho...

Hearing the strange ‘oh ho’ sound from his classmates, Aoki Shi dumbly looked up at the extraordinarily beautiful girl before him, nodded. "Okay."

How odd—why is her hair blue? Does the school not care about hairstyles?

He lowered his head again, apparently engrossed in his book, his face calm and composed.

Takashi’s radiant smile faltered for a moment, but inside, waves of shock erupted: He—he didn’t respond with an ‘oh ho’!? Impossible, perhaps I didn’t hear it?

[Learning Skill has been added to your skill bar.]

At that moment, Aoki Shi, engrossed in examining his first skill, was completely oblivious to what had just transpired.