Matsushita Chiaki was stunned. She stared blankly at Shikime Natsu, who had suddenly appeared before her, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment at this moment.
"Sh-Shiki-san...?"
She subconsciously took half a step back, a trace of uncertainty in her voice.
"How come you are... here?"
"Isn't this Class D's classroom? Aren't you from Class A...?"
"I am also a member of Class D."
Shikime Natsu took over the conversation very naturally, telling a lie without blushing or his heart skipping a beat.
He wanted to try and see if he could interfere with Matsushita Chiaki's cognition purely through verbal suggestion, without using any skills.
"I've always been in this class. It's just that I'm usually quite low-key, so you didn't pay much attention to me, that's all."
"? Is... is that so?"
Unexpectedly, after Shikime Natsu said these words, the confusion in Matsushita Chiaki's eyes lingered for only a split second before dissipating rapidly.
She actually accepted this setting as a matter of course.
"So that's how it is... No wonder I felt Shiki-san looked somewhat familiar."
She nodded, as if she really recalled bits and pieces of Shikime Natsu's life in Class D.
"As expected of a dream," Shikime Natsu lamented silently in his heart.
It was just like when one is dreaming and suddenly dreams that they can fly, or that the family dog starts talking. Although one might feel it's a bit strange at first, one quickly accepts these inexplicable settings in a daze and feels they are very reasonable.
This is the logic of dreams—completely illogical, yet a system of its own.
That is also why very few people can realize they are dreaming while in a dream.
"Then, Shiki-san."
After accepting the setting that Shikime Natsu was a classmate, Matsushita Chiaki's attitude immediately became much friendlier, even carrying a trace of urgency.
She took a step forward, staring tightly into Shikime Natsu's eyes.
"Do you also want to advance to Class A?"
"Of course."
Shikime Natsu restrained his smile and answered very seriously.
"That is my goal. I think Matsushita-san should hold the same idea as me."
Hearing this affirmative answer, Matsushita Chiaki obviously breathed a sigh of relief, and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
Finally... found him.
Someone with the same goal as herself, and who possessed decent strength.
However, very quickly, a trace of worry and uncertainty revealed itself in her eyes again.
"But... Shiki-san, can you really do it?"
"You've seen the current Class D as well... a sheet of loose sand, with no cohesion at all."
She pointed at those "mosaic" classmates who were still arguing and in chaos, her tone filled with helplessness.
"Wanting to lead such a class to advance to Class A is really too difficult."
"Weren't you looking for me just now?"
Shikime Natsu asked back with a smile, his eyes full of confidence.
"Clearly Kushida, Hirata, and Horikita are there—three people who look very capable—but you didn't choose to join them."
"I want to know why."
"Because..."
Matsushita Chiaki bit her lip, her gaze sweeping over those three people who stood in the circles of light yet were still unable to integrate the class.
"They aren't good enough."
She spoke bluntly.
"Although these three have a certain influence in the class and seem to work very hard, but... relying solely on them to lead Class D to advance to Class A is far from enough."
"They lack that... ability to truly control the situation. Moreover, I don't trust their abilities."
Speaking of this, she looked at Shikime Natsu again, a ray of hope flashing in her eyes.
"That is why I have been searching all along."
"Searching for that powerhouse who hides in the shadows of Class D and possesses true strength."
"That would be me."
Shikime Natsu smiled faintly, claiming the identity of this hidden powerhouse without any modesty.
"I am the person you are looking for."
Hearing Shikime Natsu say such arrogant words, Matsushita Chiaki surprisingly didn't harbor the slightest suspicion, not even a hint of intention to refute.
She seemed to accept it with quite a clear conscience, and her eyes even revealed a gratification that said 'it really is you.'
It seemed that in Matsushita Chiaki's subconscious, his image was still quite reliable.
Shikime Natsu felt quite satisfied with this.
"However, I am very curious."
Shikime Natsu looked at her and asked suddenly.
"Matsushita-san, why are you so obsessed with advancing to Class A?"
Matsushita Chiaki shook her head, her expression becoming somewhat serious.
"Didn't the teacher already say it? Only by graduating from Class A can one enjoy a one hundred percent employment and university advancement rate."
"Moreover..."
Her eyes dimmed, and a trace of anxiety seeped into her voice.
"Once one graduates from below Class B, one will be labeled as someone unable to graduate from Class A. This label will accompany one for a lifetime, becoming a burden and a negative factor for future development."
"I want to have a future where I can develop stably."
"So that's how it is."
Shikime Natsu nodded slightly.
Is this Matsushita Chiaki's consideration?
It really is realistic enough.
If they were awake, trying to pry these truthful words out of the mouth of Matsushita Chiaki—who excelled at disguise and mixed into the gal group as a transparent person—would probably be quite difficult.
After all, she was a person extremely skilled at hiding her true thoughts and strength.
But well, this was a dream.
When people enter a dream, they always let down their guard and become just that little bit more honest.
After answering Shikime Natsu's question, Matsushita Chiaki seemed to become even more urgent.
She couldn't wait to get an answer from this "hidden powerhouse."
"Shiki-san, since you have confidence, what do you plan to do?"
"The gap right now is too big..."
She counted on her fingers, repeating that cruel reality with an anxious expression.
"Class A has nearly 1000 Class Points, sitting firmly in first place, while our Class D... has only 0 points."
"The gap is too big! The gap is too big."
"Don't rush."
Shikime Natsu extended a finger and shook it gently.
"There is still a whole three years ahead. If we want to advance to Class A, it cannot be achieved overnight."
"Rice must be eaten one mouthful at a time; the road must be walked one step at a time."
"First, we must focus our goal on this upcoming midterm exam."
Shikime Natsu analyzed with clear logic.
"In this midterm exam, we must ensure that not a single person is expelled. If someone is expelled, it will definitely be unfavorable for future competition. And then... we must also seize the one hundred Class Points mentioned by Chabashira-sensei. As long as we go from zero to something, our odds of winning will increase by a point."
"Mn, I know this point too."
Matsushita Chiaki nodded.
"But how do we do it? The class right now is too chaotic."
"So, this involves the second point."
Shikime Natsu held up a second finger.
"Determine the true Leader of the class."
"In the current Class D, there are simply too many so-called Leaders. Hirata, Kushida, Horikita—every one of them wants to become the class leader."
"But for a class, having only one voice is enough."
"Indeed..."
Matsushita Chiaki nodded in deep agreement.
In her view, although these three people each had their strengths, no matter who took the position, they couldn't convince the masses.
Although Hirata Yousuke looked very gentle and was quite well-connected among the boys of Class D, he was too kind, even somewhat indecisive. With this kind of personality, there was no way to lead Class D far enough in the cruel competition.
Although Horikita Suzune's individual abilities were decent, both in study and physical fitness, her social skills were just too terrible. Matsushita Chiaki didn't hate her too much—after all, she had communicated with Horikita Suzune, and compared to the initial atmosphere, it was already much better. Moreover, she could get the past exam questions. But... precisely because her social skills were lacking, she wasn't suitable to be Class D's leader.
Although Kushida Kikyou had good intelligence gathering abilities and could even solve the problem of leaking past exam questions, Matsushita Chiaki felt that Kushida Kikyou wouldn't do either, for reasons similar to Hirata Yousuke.
Both of them lacked the kind of ability that could support their gentleness.
Matsushita Chiaki raised her head, looking at Shikime Natsu with a burning gaze.
"But... if it's you... you can do it, right?"
"I believe in you."
In Matsushita Chiaki's subconscious, Shikime Natsu was a very formidable person. So in the dream, Matsushita Chiaki would also hold trust in Shikime Natsu—trust in Shikime Natsu's strength.
"As long as Shiki-san is willing to step forward..."
Matsushita Chiaki walked forward and spoke softly to Shikime Natsu.
"If there is anywhere you need help, I will assist you with all my strength."
"Although I usually don't show it much, I do have some ability."
"I will help you... become Class D's only leader."
"Then I'll rely on you, Matsushita-san."
Shikime Natsu said with a smile.
"I will take you to see the scenery at that summit."
A brilliant smile appeared on Matsushita Chiaki's face; all the worries from a moment ago dissipated.
Just as Shikime Natsu wanted to say something else, the surrounding scenery suddenly began to change drastically.
It was as if the movie had been pressed on fast-forward.
The next second.
Shikime Natsu found himself standing on the podium, while the seats below were filled with "mosaic" faces.
All the students of Class D were cheering for him, shouting his name loudly.
Shikime Natsu became the new Leader of Class D, as expected by everyone.
Then, under his wise leadership, Class D was like it had activated cheats.
The scene switched every few seconds.
Full marks for everyone in the midterm exam.
Class D achieved total victory in various competitive exams; even Class A lost to Shikime Natsu.
Whether it was Sakayanagi, Ichinose, or Ryuuen—all were defeated by Shikime Natsu.
Class D's Class Points rose continuously like they were riding a rocket.
100 points.
300 points.
500 points.
The gap with Class A was closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
And behind every glorious moment, there was Matsushita Chiaki's figure.
She was like a perfect hidden deputy.
Because she didn't like attracting attention and didn't want to expose her strength, she still maintained a low profile on the surface.
But in private, she provided various intelligence and help for Shikime Natsu.
The two of them, one in the light and one in the dark, cooperated tacitly, struggling together for the rise of Class D.
From Class D to Class C.
From Class C to Class B.
With the elevation of the class status, the relationship between Shikime Natsu and Matsushita Chiaki also seemed to gradually heat up and draw closer during this side-by-side combat.
Shikime Natsu hadn't even reacted to what was happening before Matsushita Chiaki had already directly linked her arm with his.
Their bodies were pressed tightly together, looking just like a young couple in the heat of love.
The scenes continued to change rapidly.
Finally, time arrived at the third year of high school.
After the last special exam ended, Class D's points finally surpassed Class A, even if only by a meager advantage of 1 point.
Shikime Natsu successfully led Class D to advance to Class A.
As long as they stabilized this position in the remaining year, then all of them could graduate from Class A and obtain that privilege they dreamed of.
The thing Matsushita Chiaki had longed for most in her heart all along was finally achieved.
That night.
The scene switched again.
It was no longer a classroom, nor an exam venue, but a warm room full of a maiden's aura.
If nothing unexpected happened, that was Matsushita Chiaki's dormitory.
She held Shikime Natsu's hand, and the two sat by the bedside.
Matsushita Chiaki's face was completely flushed red, her eyes full of affection, her voice as low as a mosquito's buzz:
"Ne... Natsu..."
"Today... is a safe day..."
Just when Shikime Natsu thought it would continue...
Swish—
The scene switched ruthlessly again.
Skipped! Directly skipped!
Shikime Natsu stood in the auditorium with a dumbfounded look on his face, surrounded by sky-filling ribbons and applause.
Graduation ceremony.
No, the key plot was just skipped like that?
The dream continued to develop.
After graduation, Shikime Natsu and Matsushita Chiaki both found ideal jobs and became elites of society.
The two were still together, their affection sweet.
Although the changes in this scene were ridiculously fast, even quite nonsensical, Shikime Natsu, who was in the midst of it, inexplicably felt he had experienced a quite long and fulfilling life.
Finally.
The scene froze in a sacred church.
Wedding ceremony.
Matsushita Chiaki wore a pure white wedding dress, beautiful beyond compare.
She looked at Shikime Natsu affectionately, slowly closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and offered her lips.
Just at the instant their lips were about to touch.
The dream changed again, collapsing instantly and returning to darkness.
Ring, ring, ring—!!!
Shikime Natsu opened his eyes abruptly.
Beside his ear was the piercing ring of the alarm clock.
It was already morning.
Shikime Natsu felt he could give this skill a bad review.
Who designed this skill? It's so trash?
And on the other side.
Girls' Dormitory.
Matsushita Chiaki also woke up from her bed with a start.
She gasped for large mouthfuls of air, her eyes blurred, seemingly still immersed in that long and real dreamscape.
When those shameful images—linking arms, safe day, marriage—gradually flooded into her mind.
The girl's entire face flushed red instantly, like a thoroughly ripened apple.
She covered her face, dying of shame and indignation, feeling that something was slightly off down below, and then hurriedly grabbed a new pair of panties and rushed into the bathroom.
Splash, splash—
Matsushita Chiaki let the shower water pour over her body, seemingly trying to disperse the heat that had inexplicably appeared in her heart, and also... to forget some shameful things.
"Why... why would I have that kind of dream... Why would I say those kinds of words?"
"And the partner was actually... Shiki-san?!"
"Thank goodness it was just a dream..."
Matsushita Chiaki breathed a sigh of relief. This dream was too nonsensical, right? exactly how did it develop into that?
____
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