Chapter 135: The Boy's First Target

Qingshan Li's day begins at five in the morning.

He doesn't brush his teeth or wash his face, only uses the toilet once.

Then he puts on sportswear, puts on his newly bought running shoes, and goes out in the dim light of dawn.

Qingshan Li feels his own rhythm, striving to approach the state guided by the System.

The world is like the deep sea where fish have not yet awakened; as he takes a step forward, it's as if he's in water, as if he's about to soar into the air, able to float briefly.

He arrives near the National Stadium.

——System, the route for the school's long-distance running competition, increase 'Speed'.

【Begin guiding 'Speed'】

Humans clumsily advancing in the sea instantly become sailfish.

On the running track, everyone who is overtaken can't help but look at him, as if seeing a ribbon of light flying in the air.

He can keep running forever, nothing can stop him.

Just watching him run will arouse the desire to run in one's heart.

Not only because running might be quite happy, but also because of the human instinct to pursue excellence and dream of perfection.

Qingshan Li's running posture guided by the System gives people such a feeling.

Back home, he waters the vegetable garden first, then goes to the bathroom to shower.

While eating breakfast, Qingshan Li says: "Do you two want to run with me?"

"No." Ono Mizuki refuses.

"If you don't get used to it, you won't be able to handle it on the day of the marathon competition."

The official name is 'Long-Distance Running Competition', but all students call it 'Marathon Competition', so Qingshan Li follows suit.

"Losing two hours of sleep is what makes you unable to handle it!" Ono Mizuki firmly refuses.

Ono Mika, who was originally somewhat tempted, also gives up the idea.

"What about in the evening?" Qingshan Li says again.

"That's even more impossible, I have to study."

Thinking about it this way, they indeed have no time.

Qingshan Li picks up a piece of bluefish meat, eating while chatting about other things.

"This morning when I was running, I saw some professional athletes, and thought of Sister Mika."

"Do they look like me?" Ono Mika asks curiously.

"No. Running competitions, no matter how hard you train, if you don't run well on the day of the competition, isn't it all for nothing? I was reminded of your entrance exam—cheer up for the Cultural Festival."

Ono Mika laughs.

"Brother, you cheer up too." Ono Mizuki suddenly says.

"I'm only in the second year of high school."

"If you write another 'Detective A', even if Sister's entrance exam doesn't go well, it definitely won't be because of pressure."

"Makes sense, leave it to me!"

"Mizuki!" Ono Mika scolds, then says to Qingshan Li, "Li, don't feel pressured, you're already enough."

Then you should give me more pocket money.

"Pressure makes people grow." Qingshan Li is now someone with status, he must pay attention to his status.

A System Holder writing a novel, yet not achieving wealth freedom, not even as good as those without a System, simply like an eight-hundred-year-old who still wets the bed—unable to hold it even at the Nascent Soul Stage.

"More and more people are praising 'Detective A' online." Ono Mizuki says, comparing her phone, reading the comments with emotion.

【Finished reading, in a daze, feeling like I've transmigrated once】

【With my level, it's hard to praise this book, I'm speechless】

【Can't help but keep reading, yet reluctant to finish it】

【The writing is too poor; to put it bluntly, my handling of language is better than the author's】

【It aroused my desire to write; after all, even something written like this can sell millions of copies】

【High school level】

"Wait, is the latter praise?" Qingshan Li asks.

"I'm in a good mood; even if others scold you, I feel it's praise~" Ono Mizuki's voice sounds like she's about to jump, she's indeed in a good mood.

Ono Mika, who was drinking water, can't help but giggle.

Qingshan Li hands her a tissue.

Taking the train to Hiroo Station, the three of them subconsciously look toward the former platform; they used to get off there.

Now, wearing Kaimei High School's school uniform, regarded as children from rich families, they can't refute it either.

The morning homeroom is a seat change Qingshan Li had long forgotten.

"Many classmates request to sit in the first row; since there are too many people, the teacher can only draw lots." Akita Shio says.

In the classroom, everyone looks at each other, as if there's a murderer inside.

Some small cliques begin to have a crisis of trust; very likely behind each other's backs, secretly applying to the teacher for the first row of the classroom.

Qingshan Li, Kobayashi Shiki, Aizawa Jun, and the Basketball Girl won't.

Not only them, those in the back rows are watching the excitement.

The first row isn't for them.

"The teacher divides the classroom seats into three zones; depending on height, everyone can draw different zones. Although it's not very fair, the teacher has no better way."

"After drawing lots, if there are unsuitable places, everyone can discuss it."

"Alright, starting with Qingshan."

That is, drawing lots according to student ID order.

"Qing Shan Jun, you're C." Akita Shio stood beside the podium, her posture graceful.

For high school students, she might have mature charm, but to Qingshan Li, Akita Shio was still brimming with youth.

Qingshan Li casually drew one from box C.

A group of six seats.

Still not the protagonist's seat, but the position closest to the classroom back door.

This seat was the worst, especially in summer when the air conditioning was needed; once the door opened, it became unbearably hot.

"Teacher, can I draw again?"

"No." Akita Shio smiled.

"Even Qing Shan, whom the teacher loves most, can't, so it seems we can't either." Kobayashi Shiki sighed.

Laughter broke out in the classroom.

"Akita Teacher, so your favorite is actually Qing Shan Jun? I thought it was me~" Yemu Reina said sadly, she was one of the liveliest girls in the class.

"Who exactly is the teacher's favorite student?" the prettiest girl in the class asked curiously.

"Matters unrelated to studies, the teacher will not answer. Well, Amakusa Classmate, it's your turn."

"It's me, right? It must be me? The teacher said my name!" the prettiest girl in the class said while walking up.

"A lewd woman has appeared."

"Amakusa Classmate, you can draw lots from inside B or C." Akita Shio said with a smile.

Amakusa reached his hand into box C, and the girls she got along with laughed.

"Teacher, I'm not like Classmate Aoyama, nor to prove whom you like more, but, can I draw once more?"

"No."

The drawing ended, and seat changing began; when Amakusa discovered that she and Qingshan Li were both walking toward the classroom back door, she extended her hand to Qingshan Li.

"Let's shake hands." she said.

Qingshan Li shook hands with her.

A girl's hand is always astonishingly soft.

Clearly just a hand, neither edible like food nor entertaining like a mobile phone, why would it make people reluctant to let go?

"Does anyone have any objections to the seats?" Akita Shio asked.

"Teacher, all the girls in the class can't see Qing Shan, and we boys can't see Amakusa Classmate." Kobayashi Shiki said.

An atmosphere of self-satisfaction spread through the classroom.

"Since there are no objections, everyone just sit like this." Akita Shio said.

Thus, Akita Shio's favorite student was unknown, but the most ignored one appeared: Kobayashi Shiki.

Regarding this, Kobayashi Shiki, who accepted the boys' interview, answered: "A group of children, being ignored by a mature woman, is a special treatment—later Akita Teacher will forget you all, but definitely won't forget me; perhaps we will thus develop a special fate."

He even started to believe it himself.

"Kobayashi, you clearly look not bad, and are in the Soccer Club, yet have no girlfriend all this time; that's just not good." The Basketball Girl commented.

"You cast your net too wide." a boy said.

"If it were Qing Shan Jun, casting the net wider would be no problem; I always feel he will continue an unfinished romance with Akita Teacher in the future, he'll be hit by a car!"

Under everyone's gaze, Amakusa Classmate turned back, looking at a test paper together with Qingshan Li.

"This isn't completely married already!" a boy retorted.

Kobayashi Shiki flew into a rage and thought of an extremely vicious plan: "I'm going to report Mikami Ai Classmate!"

The boys' reaction to this was: "You dare speak to Mikami-sama!"

"Fool, of course put the report letter in the shoe cabinet!"

"What, a love letter." The boys struck a pose as if everyone did such things, just like everyone wore skirts when they were young.

After answering Amakusa's math question, Qingshan Li continued to think about his own matters.

Although no one knew, he had already set a small goal of becoming first place in the whole school; the key was how to improve himself.

Learning step by step was of course fine, but before the second semester ended, could it really let him jump straight from 459 to 499?

Upon careful calculation, besides club activities and fitness, he had no more time to use for studying.

Now there was only one method left: use the System in class!

Cannot use continuously, just occasionally; on subjects needing improvement, when in good condition, use the System.

This could not only improve grades but also train his concentration.

As a System Holder, yet unable to fully master the System's functions, was also not quite right.

——System, take down the System for me, I want to conquer Him!

【Teaching scene detected, activate Intelligent Guidance?】

——Start!

——Qingshan, you also give me a lecture, absolutely cannot

System·Ryosuke wrote on paper: Amakusa Classmate, your hair smells so good.

Qingshan Li, focus completely!

(Chapter End)