After lunch, Lu Chen went down the mountain, hailed a taxi, and returned to school.
The locust trees were lush and dense in early summer, and along with the willow trees swaying gently in the breeze, they painted a scene full of vitality. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows along the tree-lined path. The campus was quiet during the lunch break, and Lu Chen quickened his pace, heading straight back to the academic building.
There were a few students scattered around the classroom, but the atmosphere was heavy, a stark contrast to the lively greenery outside.
The reason? Monthly exam results were out.
Back at his seat, Lu Chen noticed Kenshin Zhou and his deskmate looking dejected, which made him chuckle.
"What's up? Did you bomb the test?"
Kenshin Zhou glanced at him, then turned away with a sour look.
"Please, Mr. Top Student, don't talk to us losers. Bad luck is contagious."
Lu Chen thought about it. Bombed the test? What does that have to do with luck?
He turned to Kenshin Zhou's deskmate. "What rank did he get?"
She couldn't help but snicker. "Second to last overall."
Suppressing a laugh, Lu Chen patted Kenshin Zhou on the shoulder, looking like he was trying to console a friend.
"Second to last isn't so bad. At least someone's worse. What are you afraid of? You've still got room to fall."
Kenshin Zhou slumped over his desk, covering his score sheet, clearly not wanting to engage.
Lu Chen asked again, "So who's dead last?"
The girl sobered up and pointed at the seat in front of her.
"Miss Raiden."
"..." Lu Chen went quiet for a long while.
Seeing his reaction, the girl finally couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
She explained, "But Miss Raiden didn't take any of the three comprehensive humanities subjects. She's still a sports student."
Lu Chen finally let out a breath of relief. He had been tutoring Ei every day. With a top student racking his brain to help her study, no matter how bad her talent was, she couldn't possibly be last...
Besides, Ei was actually very gifted, especially in science.
She was determined to become a top science and engineering talent and return to build Inazuma.
Lu Chen gave the girl a helpless look. "Why are you so cheeky now? You're not cute at all."
She kept giggling behind her hand.
Lu Chen turned back and thought, maybe this is what they mean by being influenced by your environment.
Since he arrived here, even Kenshin Zhou had gotten cheekier...
The first class in the afternoon was with the homeroom teacher. She walked in with a stern face, and the classroom immediately fell silent.
She was usually easy to get along with and her classes were often lively, but the tension today was obvious—everyone had done poorly, and no one wanted to face her.
"This month's exam results were very disappointing. Some subjects' averages have dropped to second or third in the grade. Everyone should go home and reflect—have you really been studying seriously?"
"Every time I see you in the hallway, some of you are sneaking naps. How can you sleep at your age?"
"The PE teacher is sick, so all PE classes this month are canceled. You'll only get them back when the next exam results improve!"
The class broke into wails of despair. The teacher tapped the blackboard a few times with a frosty face, and the room fell silent again.
"Also, some students deserve praise." Her gaze swept across to Lu Chen.
"Why can't you learn from others? Look how quickly their grades improved. Always picking up bad habits and never the good ones."
Her sharp gaze moved past Lu Chen and landed behind him...
A voice full of grievance came from Kenshin Zhou.
...
After class, Lu Chen was about to head to the gym when the homeroom teacher called him over.
She first praised him for being the top student. With everyone else dragging the average down, he was the only saving grace she could show off.
Then came the scolding—for always asking for leave. It was normal for students to want to play, but he needed to balance that with studying and take his academics seriously.
Especially—he shouldn't treat teachers like fools and keep coming up with bizarre excuses.
Lu Chen looked confused. What bizarre excuses?
How had Zen Zhang been helping him ask for leave?
Still, Lu Chen didn't ask any more questions. He thanked the teacher and left the office.
He was genuinely grateful to her. If it were any other student asking for leave every week like him, all they'd get was a harsh lecture.
This must be the privilege of being a top student.
At the gym, Ei hadn't come to school today. Her school team teammates were hard at work training.
There was a sense of déjà vu... Ei was so strong that the coach couldn't control her. She came and went as she pleased...
They practically worshipped her.
After all, the coach's bonus depended on the team's results.
Lu Chen hadn't told anyone he wanted to join the team. He had mentioned it casually to the coach before, but the coach thought he was joking.
He hadn't expected Lu Chen to actually come register today.
"Lu Chen..." The coach rubbed his thinning hair, looking skeptical.
"You're saying you're on the same level as Miss Raiden?"
"Yeah." Lu Chen answered naturally.
Ei always held back during matches. If they competed seriously, their performance would be about the same.
The upcoming challenge mission involved helping Raiden Ei win the national championship. He was confident about the individual events, but for the team events...
He glanced at the teammates who had stopped training at his arrival.
Too weak, too slow, too low-level—a trio of weakness.
They'd get crushed in any real competition.
"I see..."
The coach still looked doubtful. Miss Raiden had once said Lu Chen was her coach and sparring partner, and he had dismissed it as a couple joking around.
I mean, who has a coach that young?
Turns out Lu Chen was serious. He really wanted to join the fencing team.
"So... please, Coach."
Then Lu Chen delivered the classic line: "Coach, I want to play in the game!"
The coach smiled wryly and nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll check with the school to see if we can expand the team roster. But before that..."
"Hmm?"
The coach continued, "Lu Chen, could you show us some of your technical and tactical skills? It's not that I doubt your ability, but..."
He probably wanted to make sure Lu Chen wasn't all talk. Otherwise, it'd be hard to explain things to the administration. Lu Chen didn't say much and slowly walked toward the 14-meter fencing strip.
Standing on the strip, he asked, "Do I need to go through a trial like Ei did?" He looked around for the team captain. "Alright, let's go. I'm in a hurry, so let's make it quick."
The captain removed the mask covering his face and pointed at himself, looking stunned.
His expression seemed to say: Why is it always me?