Chapter 211, People around me (two in one)

From the day Utsunomiya Shuu Nobuaki started to pay attention to distance, he began to control his contact with Zero.

However, they still maintained their friendship at the beginning. After all, everyone knew that they had been talking to each other for a long time. In order not to arouse suspicion from people around them, they only said hello to each other now.

Of course, these actions were all performed by Utsunomiya Shuo alone.

No one paid any attention to him.

It looked like a breakup or a severance of friendship.

It is said that there are new rumors: the two have broken up.

If Zhuo hadn't seen Ling in his usual state before getting up and after returning home every day, he would have really thought that he had made Ling uncomfortable again.

As for the rest...

...It was probably just a small episode during the class discussion.

It was still okay in the past, when Ling was sitting in the last row by the window. At that time, the distance between the two of them was the farthest in the classroom - now it's different, it's a distance that you can reach with your hand.

This is not a metaphor.

is a statement.

Zhuo was always lazy in class, which was something anyone with a keen eye could see. His grades were mediocre, which was what he deserved.

It just so happens that he doesn't have any big ambitions.

Relying on the memories of the previous life, I can earn a little money, just enough to support myself, then buy a house, equip it with some favorite things, raise a pet, and spend my life lazily.

Very simple idea.

So it doesn’t matter if he fails to get into university. That’s what Zhuo thought.

But that doesn't mean someone thinks so.

now.

Every time when Zhuo fell asleep and closed his eyes in class, a precise little hand would pat his arm and wake him up.

When he turned his head to look, he saw Ling Banban sitting facing the podium.

At this time, the jealous looks from other students in the classroom made Zhuo Da feel lucky from the bottom of his heart. Otherwise, he would have really thought that it was all his illusion.

and then.

Ling would also help Zhuo with his homework. This had been going on since last year and was not unusual.

Ling took a lot of classes in advance last year, enough to apply for a lecturer position at the University of Tokyo. To be honest, Zhuo will never be able to catch up with this kind of talent in his entire life.

Fortunately, Ling would bring up topics according to Zhuo's "walnut-sized brain capacity", so they were able to have this kind of conversation that was their duty as students.

People can adapt to slow changes.

Add to that the presence of Kiritani, Kanda, Moriko, and even sometimes Yurina, which also played a role... Speaking of Yurina, she was still chatting with Zhuo as usual, and even if Zhuo carefully observed her expression, he couldn't tell anything.

Just like she said that day, she just drank a little and was a little confused, so there was no need to take it to heart.

After two weeks, the topic of Zhuo and Ling has faded, but when they are chatting, discussing studies, or paying attention to the atmosphere when talking, there will not be jealous glances from people around - but the boys who really like Ling will still give her sharp looks.

Maybe you could call it 'jealousy'.

"I really don't know what I like about that guy..."

It was during the break, Zhuo was tidying up his things at his seat in the classroom. The last two classes were "Home Cooking Classes" and most of the students had already gone to the cooking classroom. At this time, the boys sitting in the back rows of the classroom happened to complain in low voices.

Just now, Zhuoyou discussed with Ling about the extra meal for the "home cooking class", so that they could save the time of cooking after returning home. Ling could also relax for a day. And that scene seemed to be seen by them.

As for why they like me, it is just their subjective conjecture. I am the only one in this class or this school who can talk to Zero, and many people have tried to talk to Zero but received no response, so I don't understand and feel angry.

Can understand.

Zhuo was not angry either.

"Actually, I also want to know." Zhuo stuffed the things in his hand into the table pocket and turned to face them: "You all said that she likes me, but I don't know this myself. Can you help me ask what she likes about me, thank you."

He said this calmly, without any personal emotion. Of course, he didn't have much personal emotion either.

Compared to the troubles that the dragon clan has encountered, these little bits and pieces are nothing.

But to say that I have no temper at all...that would be deceiving myself.

...Even if we know that these people are just immature children, they would gossip in front of the person concerned.

Zhuo has a good temper and is afraid of trouble.

But I'm not afraid of anyone.

He wanted to reduce the number of such incidents in school, so he kept a distance from Zero, and his interactions with him were as natural as those between normal students. It was so natural that he would pat each other's butts whenever he and Kiritani were together.

"That's right, but Taiquan said..."

"Then shouldn't you go ask him, or you can ask Zero himself? There's no point in being jealous. If you like someone, just go after her."

"Uh, no, that's impossible... You haven't seen how Romanov treats other people."

"It starts again. I've had that experience before, but now we've known each other for a longer time. If it doesn't work then forget it."

"It's so heartless..."

"I have no obligation to help you solve your problems, and no matter what you think, Zero and I will not become real boyfriend and girlfriend."

The indifferent response was met with gnashing of teeth from them.

Zhuo doesn't have a good relationship with them, it's just the opposite. Zhuo can't even remember their names. Maybe many years after graduation, when Zhuo looks through the graduation photos, the thought "who are they" will come to his mind.

They were unilaterally hostile to Zhuo because of personal issues. Zhuo had no reason to do anything for them.

Besides, it's true that Zhuo had gone through a period of being hurt by Ling's various words.

But Zhuo didn't think that even if they really followed his path, they would be able to get closer to Ling.

However, maybe it was because Zhuo acted too calm, the two of them who came up to continue talking to him gave him confused and dumbfounded looks instead.

"Utsunomiya... You've known Romanov for such a long time, yet you still look so nonchalant..."

"Is Utsunomiya not interested in "Her Highness the Princess"?"

Zhuo found it very funny to hear their tone which could be described as a '180-degree' change.

She was hostile to him because she thought he and Ling were a couple, but now she guessed that might not be the case, and she began to doubt Zhuo herself. "I'm interested," Zhuo stood up and prepared to go to the cooking class, "Of course I'm interested. More than that, I even want to tie her up at home and not let her go out, so that she can only cook for me. As for that kind of interest..."

Zhuo stopped here, but his calm attitude had already given the answer.

It's true that he is interested in Zero and wants to have him all to himself.

However, this kind of possession is probably different from the possession in the minds of these people. What he wants to possess is not the desire for sexual possession that arises from a man's lust because of Zero's exquisite appearance and petite and well-proportioned figure.

Rather, it is the true Zero that is shown in daily life - he is quiet, but when he speaks he is very sharp and difficult to deal with. At the same time, he is serious about his work, loyal, thoughtful, and good at pampering people. In fact, he often acts stubbornly and refuses to bow his head.

For these people, they naturally don't know this.

What they like is Zero's appearance, because she is very beautiful. Even though she looks cold, she is delicate like a doll.

Of course, Zhuo also likes 'exquisite dolls', but he doesn't like just the surface - otherwise he might be able to feel more relaxed.

Zhuo's indifferent behavior seemed to make the two men suspicious, but there was no need for Zhuo to explain anything to them, so he just passed over the topic.

Zhuo walked out.

They hurried after him.

"When he's always with a cute girl like that, he only thinks about cooking. Could it be that Utsunomiya..."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your imagination, but I'm not interested in the same sex, and my aesthetic taste is the same as that of normal people. It's not that I don't understand her cuteness. Objectively speaking, she is indeed cute and a good person, but whether it will develop into a relationship is another matter."

"I don't understand what you're talking about~!"

They grumbled in dissatisfaction, causing students passing by in the corridor to glance over here from time to time, which made Zhuo feel very embarrassed.

Let’s not talk about the fact that I do have feelings for Zero.

Putting this matter aside, Zhuo was really curious about why these people believed that if there was a cute and beautiful girl, they must have a favorable impression of the opposite sex on her.

Does being pretty mean I have to like her?

If that were the case, all the boys in the school should fall in love with her. In fact, some people just admired beautiful girls like Zero, and some boys liked other girls.

Just look around and you'll know that not everyone likes Zero from the perspective of the opposite sex. Kiritani likes Yurina, Kanda likes Kazama Ryu... but this doesn't count.

"I am the one who doesn't understand you."

Zhuo muttered helplessly.

The two men suddenly felt like fish in water and showed lively expressions.

“Huh!?” one of them exclaimed, “Isn’t this normal? She’s so cute. Although she doesn’t respond to everyone, she’s very charming. She’s a foreigner, pretty and dignified. She can do anything. Isn’t it the best to be his girlfriend?”

"This... okay."

Zhuo understood what they wanted to say, but he didn't think that this was a reason to have love for someone.

At least not enough.

No wonder he doesn't fit in with the boys of the same grade around him, as they have different views on love.

By the way, if we follow their logic, Cleopatra VII, Joan of Arc, and Wu Zetian can also meet their requirements, then they have too many people to admire.

"Really? She's beautiful and has a great body. She's simply ideal. Isn't she the embodiment of a boy's ideal? Oh, there's also a Yamamoto-san."

"Yes, not only is she cute and has good grades, but she can do everything, and even has a great figure. That's amazing! Although you can't tell at ordinary times... but when she wears a gymnastics uniform, she's amazing. The contrast that can't be hidden is really amazing."

“Yes, I was shocked at the time.”

"Although the type that is hard to hold like Yamamoto is also good, this kind of just-right feeling is better."

"Really? I don't agree with that. I think Yamamoto's jumping style is better. That's a man's romance!"

Utsunomiya Shuo silently glanced at the faces of the students from the next class who were leaning out of the corridor window, then retracted his gaze and said, "You have already been disqualified in many aspects. I suggest that you shut up now, in every sense of the word."

Zhuo vaguely - no, clearly felt the murderous intent.

Even though he knew that the target of the murderous aura was not him, the sharp feeling was enough to make Zhuo, who was around the target, shrink his body.

Zhuo didn't look in the direction of the murderous intent again, but he knew who it was, so it was better to be careful to avoid becoming her punching bag later.

If you get involved, you might end up getting into trouble.

"By the way, Utsunomiya and Yamamoto have a good relationship, right? Damn it, I'm just an insignificant guy, how could I get so much favor without knowing it!!"

"That's right. Why? If it were me, I would definitely choose one to date, even though it's hard to choose."

Hearing the two of them start talking about male-specific delusions, Zhuo sighed quietly.

He shouldn't have bothered with these people in the first place.

He was wrong.

"...I think that from the moment you expressed this desire in public, it will be impossible for Yamamoto, Zero, or other girls to have any thoughts about you."

First of all, there is a premise that most girls will not have any good intentions towards boys who talk dirty in public, not to mention that the topic of conversation is about their body shape.

On top of that, Zero's personality is so indifferent that it's a bit cold. If one was only attracted by her looks and physical features from the beginning, then the arrow of favorability would definitely point to the negative half axis from the beginning.

He glanced at the next window again.

There, the person involved, Yurina Yamamoto, rolled her eyes at him, then clenched her fists and put her little head back.

Well-developed girls will feel inferior during school because they are different from the people around them. Even though Yurina's outstanding appearance eliminates this, she still doesn't like others discussing her figure.

Even if Zhuo made fun of her for this, she would be angry, not to mention that now it was an irrelevant person who was using her as an example.

Although it seemed that Yurina had no intention of pursuing the matter, Zhuo inexplicably felt that she was speechless about this.

"This is none of my business."

Zhuo defended himself in his heart. Then he continued to walk towards the cooking classroom, blocking out the annoying conversation between the two boys who were listening to the snow.

They didn't notice the gazes coming from that side, nor did they know that their rude thoughts had been known to the person involved, as they were chatting enthusiastically.

Zhuo had no obligation to stop them - in fact, even if he tried to stop them, it was useless. They were still talking about the two beautiful girls on campus and had to make a "difficult" choice between them.

"..."

Zhuo let out a heavy sigh to himself.

Perhaps it is because of you that the "iceberg" will always be an "iceberg".

(End of this chapter)