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Karuizawa's reason for refusing to pay the class fee was ostensibly financial hardship—she indeed didn't have any extra points.
But there was actually a deeper reason.
Because she needed to play a role that fit the "gyaru" persona, an image of someone indifferent to class affairs and disdainful of the class officers' demands.
Just like the girls who bullied her in middle school, they too had used the same attitude, contemptuously ignoring the class president's urgings, even with mocking smiles.
Ironically, she now seemed to be gradually living out the very image she once detested, showing the smiles she once hated, and adopting the actions she once disliked.
However, Karuizawa's "gyaru" image was ultimately just a facade.
Although she deliberately acted strong and willful, she never truly crossed that line—she didn't deliberately exclude girls in her class like past bullies, nor did she form cliques and countless small chat groups to isolate others, and she certainly didn't lay hands on other female students in the girls' restroom.
At the beginning of the school year, she'd indeed entertained such thoughts.
Perhaps for self-protection, or perhaps to avoid being bullied again, she even considered whether she should treat others the same way her past tormentors had.
But in the end, she stopped before that boundary.
—Was this not a tragic cycle? A former victim, now imitating the posture of an aggressor, yet ultimately unable to become a true aggressor.
On the first day of school, she quickly became close with Sato Maya, Matsushita Chiaki, and Mori Nene.
This wasn't simply making friends.
In her shrewd calculations, forming friendships with these three meant she could build her own small circle within the class—this was the first protective wall she constructed for herself in an unfamiliar environment.
Among them, Sato Maya was the one she cared about the most.
This girl, who exuded the typical gyaru aura in every gesture, was in some sense the authentic cheerful gyaru.
The other girl's perfectly timed body language and vibrant way of speaking were all subjects she needed to study and emulate.
After all, in this dog-eat-dog school, she was willing to do anything to avoid repeating her past mistakes.
At this moment, she was fully focused on typing in their group chat of four.
{Absolutely not! I strongly disagree! Since we already know the information, why should we still pay those twenty-five thousand points?}
After sending this message, she secretly apologized to the mysterious person in her heart.
'I'm sorry... Although this information is indeed worth the price... but to maintain my persona... although! The main reason is that I really don't have any points left!'
{? Kei, why are you so particular about the class fee these past few days? It's so strange!}
{What's wrong with you?}
{Yeah, definitely! Kei seems especially stubborn this time!}
Karuizawa's fingers instantly froze.
'Oh no... Is my reaction not "gyaru" enough? Aren't gyaru girls all supposed to be this casual and willful?'
But even a real gyaru girl said so... It seems she really was trying too hard. Was she overacting?
'But... this is my first time being a gyaru...'
'I have no experience being a gyaru at all! I can only try to imitate! But I really can't bring myself to bully others!'
Could her disguise be seen through because of this one sentence? And then she'd be kicked out of the clique? And then, just like before, in the restroom, they would...
She already lacked a sense of security, and those unbearable memories seemed to resurface before her eyes, even causing her phone screen to tremble slightly.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
Perhaps it was that old habit acting up again—always over-interpreting others' every word.
Her classmates were just casually complaining. She shouldn't take it so seriously.
When her peripheral vision caught sight of Akira, she felt like she'd grasped a lifeline, and her tense nerves immediately relaxed.
At least Akira was still there.
She'd made a deal with him.
He would protect her.
With him, she'd never repeat the mistakes of middle school.
This time, the outcome would definitely be different.
On the other side, Akira was completely unaware of her thoughts.
He keenly noticed that her expression suddenly turned rather poor, but the moment their eyes met, her gaze seemed to be suddenly infused with some kind of power, and her previously wavering eyes instantly became firm.
'I can give others buffs? How come I didn't know that?'
The other person's transformation was simply too abrupt.
Before he could ponder it further, a soft knock on the door broke the silence in the room.
"Shimizu-san, I'm Matsushita Chiaki..." A strange female voice came from outside the door, with a hint of hesitation in her tone. "I just heard Kei mention she came to visit you. Is she with you?"
Akira raised an eyebrow slightly.
Matsushita's self-introduction was concise and clear—identity, purpose, request, all explained clearly in one sentence, without a single flaw.
A typical logical personality, which aligns with his impression of this girl.
"She's looking for you." Akira tilted his chin towards Karuizawa. "Want to go out and talk?"
"..." Karuizawa cleared her throat lightly. "How about... let her come in?"
Akira gave her a meaningful glance. "Although I don't know what you're worried about, it's probably for nothing."
He turned and walked towards the door. "I'll get it."
It was just a simple conversation, considered as after-sales service for those eighty thousand points.
Upon opening the door, Matsushita was indeed standing outside.
It must be admitted that among the Class D girls, Matsushita's appearance and temperament were top-notch.
The other party had the kind of refined demeanor cultivated by good family education, which is quite rare to see in ordinary people.
"Please come in." Akira stepped aside to let her pass.
Matsushita hesitated slightly, but after seeing Karuizawa inside, whose expression was as usual, she nodded gently and walked in.
She walked straight to her friend, then suddenly showed a look of realization. "I understand why you've been so abnormal."
Karuizawa's fingertips trembled slightly.
"You must have run out of points, right?" Matsushita slowly leaned closer to her, unable to hide her smile. "What are you trying to tough out?"
"..." Karuizawa was stunned for two seconds, then her tensed shoulders suddenly relaxed. "Haha, you saw right through me, huh?"
"Don't worry! Maya and Nene just called, and they're each lending you eight thousand points. I'll lend you nine thousand, so you should be able to pay the class fee!" she said, seizing the opportunity.
"Ah... you guys pooled money for me?" Karuizawa looked at her with surprise. "Thank you so much! I'll definitely treat you all to a big meal next month!"