People at the practical education center only want to drop out.

.......

Kushida finished telling Shirai her story.

After speaking, Kushida lowered his head, looking dejected, like a frostbitten eggplant, a prisoner awaiting trial.

After hearing what the other party said, Bai Lan had many doubts resolved.

Bai Lan said, "So, this is why you want to be friends with Horikita? You want to use your friendship to test her understanding of your past?"

You agreed to learn how to argue with people from me, and because I offered to teach you, it reminded you of things related to your embarrassing past. You now suspect that Horikita might have already leaked information about your embarrassing past to me, and you're trying to test me during practice?

Kushida nodded: "Yes."

"You're threatening me not only to make me keep quiet about the 'true colors' you reveal when you practice arguing, but also because you suspect that Horikita may have already leaked information about your dark past to me, and may leak more in the future. Plus, I might help you get closer to terror, so you want to control me through coercion?"

"almost."

"Almost there? What's missing?"

"Um... I really want you to practice roasting people with me."

"Practice roasting people? You want to use me as a target for roasting, don't you?"

"Ha, ha, ha..." Kushida laughed somewhat awkwardly.

"But what's the point of telling me all this?" Bai Lan asked, puzzled.

Kushida looked up, her face as cute as an angel's, and said with anticipation, "I hope you can help me get out of my current predicament!"

I need advice on how to deal with the potential problems in Horikita, as I don't want my past misdeeds to be exposed.

"Until I learn the super skill of gaining others' favor and respect without suppressing my dark side, you absolutely cannot reveal it!"

"I really don't have that skill," Bai Lan reiterated her answer.

However, Kushida's eyes were very firm, as if to say, "I think you can do it."

Under the expectant gaze of the little angel, Bai Lan absentmindedly shifted his attention to a name he was familiar with, mentioned in Kushida's story.

Horikita Suzune.

Bai Lan suddenly remembered how Horikita ignored the possibility of everyone taking their anger out on her and resolutely followed him after school this afternoon.

Although he could roughly guess that Horikita's actions were not because she wanted to help Bai Lan, but because she wanted to prove something to Bai Lan.

Although everyone had different goals, this experience of "sharing hardships" was real.

Consider it as a favor to the other person for sharing hardships with him, for keeping him company while arguing, and for being his shield for the foreseeable future.

Yes, Kushida said that the students in the class have a very high level of affection for Shirai, so Shirai needs a scapegoat again.

Although Horikita was unwilling to cooperate actively, she could make do with him for the time being as his "rumored partner".

In short, Bai Lan decided to lend Horikita a hand and see if she could help her resolve Kushida's hostility towards her.

It's worth noting that Kushida was willing to threaten Shirai, an "innocent bystander" who was only slightly affected, with the threat of expulsion from school.

If this were to go up against Horikita, the real deal, who knows what kind of trouble it would cause? At the very least, he'd have to drop out of school.

While dropping out of school was a good thing for Bai Lan, it felt like the sky was falling for other normal students!

However, since their problems were actually the same, helping Horikita was also equivalent to helping Kushida.

After deciding to intervene in the matter between Horikita and Kushida, Shirai began to think of ways to resolve the problem.

Soon, a brilliant idea struck him.

Moreover, his idea is not simply about resolving the conflict between Kushida and Horikita...

After having an idea, Bai Lan said to Kushida, "I can teach you how to solve the hidden danger in Horikita, but don't misunderstand, I mainly want to help Horikita."

He started with a blunt, masculine remark, which dampened any potential increase in positive feelings towards her.

"Please teach me!" Kushida nodded repeatedly, clearly used to Shirai's sharp tongue, and even a little... longing for it!

Then, Bai Lan said, "Actually, I've already taught you the method."

"Huh?" Kushida looked puzzled. "Did you teach me anything? Wait... could it be..."

“That’s right.” Bai Lan’s lips curled into a smirk as she said, “The solution is—to confront her!”

But Kushida was hesitant to believe it so easily.

"Roast her?"

“Yes! Fight her.” Bai Lan confirmed again.

Kushida couldn't understand: "You said at noon that if you want to be friends with Horikita, you have to learn to banter with her. Were you serious?"

"Of course..."

Kushida: Expecting glances.

"I was just kidding~"

Kushida: Expectations dashed.

"I told you, I have absolutely no skills in making friends."

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it..."

Bai Lan ignored her and continued, "I actually prefer studying how to sever relationships to making them."

My method, while it may not allow you to become friends with her, should at least resolve the issues between you two.

Kushida: "Really?"

“That’s right,” Bai Lan said confidently.

"I still don't understand. Can you explain it to me?" At this point, Kushida seemed afraid that Bai Lan would misunderstand something, so he quickly said, "Don't misunderstand. I'm sure I doubt you. I absolutely believe in your abilities. I just want to learn the secrets. If you think I'm not qualified to learn, I can stop asking."

Bai Lan glanced at her and then said, "Since that's the case, then I won't explain anymore. You just need to focus on refuting her. As long as you keep refuting her, your problem will be solved."

Bai Lan's method not only aims to resolve the issues between Kushida and Horikita, but also to resolve Kushida's various misunderstandings about him.

Bai Lan: Kushida-kun, you'll soon realize that you've really misjudged me. I really don't know how to make friends.

45. Conspiracy, open scheme, and ingenious plan! A scheme! A scheme! A scheme!

Bai Lan finally decided to explain her problem-solving approach to Kushida.

Bai Lan: "The reason you have a conflict with Horikita is because you feel that Horikita may know about your past that you don't want others to know, and there is a risk that he might reveal it."

You don't want Horikita to reveal those things because you feel that once your secrets are made public, everyone will know the "true face" hidden beneath the beautiful image you've been trying so hard to maintain, and then they will no longer be willing to be your friends, making it impossible to rebuild your "Kushida Empire".

In my opinion, resolving the conflict between Horikita and you is actually quite simple.

Just confront her!

First of all.

Horikita is a very self-important person, so she generally doesn't take other people seriously.

Therefore, she generally doesn't target anyone intentionally. She's a straightforward person who likes to win head-on and use her influence to suppress others. Under normal circumstances, she probably wouldn't use dark history to suppress others.

If she ever reveals your embarrassing past, it's most likely because she accidentally let it slip.

Besides being self-righteous, Horikita is also a reclusive and self-disciplined person.

She spends most of her time studying and exercising, leaving very little free time. She has even less time to interact with others, and she even uses spare moments to argue with people.

If your study or exercise time is "taken over" on any given day, you'll make up for it with your free time in the future.

Once you start confronting Horikita.

Given Horikita's competitive nature, he definitely won't be able to resist arguing with you.

You can use this method to consume Horikita's already scarce free time, or even overdraw her free time for the day and the next few days!

To ensure he has enough time for studying and exercising, Horikita will not engage in any other extracurricular activities or interact with others on that day or for the next few days.

Since Horikita had almost no time to communicate with others, he naturally couldn't leak secrets.

This is the first line of defense.

Second.

Once you start arguing with Horikita too much.

Over time, others will inevitably get used to the premise that "you and Horikita like to make fun of each other."

After that, any words Horikita says about you will inevitably lose much of their credibility.

If one day Horikita talks about negative things about you in front of others, their first reaction will be, "Horikita is badmouthing Kushida again."

In this way, Horikita's unintentional leak would become an invalid act.

Unless Horikita gets really desperate and gathers all the evidence to prove the truth, presenting it to everyone and providing solid proof of your dark past, no one will believe you.

However, Horikita, being such a self-centered person, would not usually waste his time doing something like that for someone else.

This is the second line of defense.

With these two lines of defense in place, Horikita will pose virtually no threat to you.

After hearing Bai Lan's words, Kushida became excited instantly.

See, that's professionalism!

And you still say you're not a master strategist?

After being excited to learn that his predicament could be resolved, Kushida soon discovered another problem:

"You're telling me to take up Horikita's free time by confronting her, but the only times I get to talk to Horikita are in the classroom or during group activities, where there are always people around. This is like asking me to confront Horikita in front of a lot of people. Isn't that a bad idea?"

Clearly, Kushida was worried about the "little angel" image she had worked so hard to cultivate.

In order to allow Kushida to confidently confront Horikita.

Bai Lan said, "It's okay, just say that I taught you to do it this way."

Kushida: "You taught me?"

Bai Lan: "You forgot? Didn't you ask me to help you make friends with Horikita at noon today? The method I taught you is—to confront her!"

"Huh? Can this really help me make friends with Horikita?"

"How could you be so stupid? I already told you! I was just kidding you, I don't know how to make friends!"