Popularity is everything; I play a super genius

"Saki-san..."

Liuli looked at Qiji, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Liuli, who is best at controlling her expressions, is now unable to do even what she is best at.

"Saki-kun, why did you save me? I don't need you to save me! I clearly told you, didn't I? I've never felt like I was alive..."

Just as Ruri was about to lose control of her emotions and say something she shouldn't have, Saki struggled to get up from the hospital bed and covered the girl's mouth.

He looked at everyone and spoke the truth that couldn't be more true:

"Hey! Don't listen to Setsuna's nonsense!"

This is just a simple visual effect!

It has absolutely nothing to do with any life-burning secret technique!

Hey, hey, hey, why are you all looking at me like that?

I didn't lie to you! I really didn't lie to you!

Don't you think I look handsome with silver hair?

The moment Qi Ji finished speaking, the entire ward fell into an eerie silence once again.

Apart from Huomu, no one believed him.

Huo Mu, who was single-minded and absolutely trusted Qi Ji, was immediately relieved upon hearing this.

This guy was just about to crack a joke and lighten the mood.

However, seeing the solemn expressions on the faces of everyone around him, he opened his mouth, but had to swallow the words that were about to come out of his throat.

In the end, Huang Lu couldn't bear it and helped Qi Ji "cover up the lie":

"Alright, alright, why are you all so serious? This isn't a secret technique that burns your life force. Those things don't work like this."

As soon as Huang Lu finished speaking, he suddenly realized that he had misspoke.

Ruri, who was saved by Saki, was still present at this moment.

With Saki's gentleness, and with her always considerate nature...

He definitely doesn't want Liuli to know about this, right?

After all, you can tell just by looking at Ruri's expression right now!

That face, which always wore a perfect smile, was now streaked with tears, filled with regret as if she wished she were dead...

"Um, sorry!" Setsuna quickly tried to make amends.

"The 'Life-Burning Secret Technique' thing was just something I made up! Thinking about it carefully, it's completely different from the one that Saki-kun used!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief; it was a false alarm!

Then, unable to hold back, he complained to Shan Na:

"Seriously, you scared me to death in that instant! If you don't know, don't talk nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, he could only manage a forced smile:

"……Feel sorry."

When Bai Lili heard what Shana and Huang Lu, who was her teacher, said, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She had been so frightened that her heart almost stopped beating!

Thank goodness.

While Bai Lili felt relieved, she didn't forget to go up and comfort her best friend:

"Ruri, it's alright, don't cry! Saki will be alright! After all, the best doctors in the City of Fire have examined him, haven't they?"

Saki's hand slowly moved away from Ruri's lips.

Liuli looked at Qiji, a huge sense of guilt surging in her heart.

Finally, the girl nodded, forcing a smile, and said:

"Hmm... nothing will happen."

If Saki-chan really dies because of her...

She swore that she would slaughter the entire Kamishiro family to pay for Saki's death!

That Kamishiro family, including Ruri herself.

……

Seeing this, the viewers in the live chat were a little confused for a moment:

"Hey guys, does anyone know what I mean? Did Lao Ji actually ignite his life?"

"It's definitely going to be epic! Damn the production team!"

"Hey! Do you even know how to write a plot? The anime has only aired a few episodes, what's with throwing in such a powerful boss?!"

"It's really exciting? But didn't Huang Lu and Shana say it wasn't?"

"Upstairs, are you also from Huomu? I could tell from their expressions! These two are helping Hagi cover up their lie!"

"Given his stoic nature, he definitely wouldn't want Ruri to know about this!"

"Holy crap?! So that's how it is? I always felt something was off about the sudden white hair turning out like that!"

"Waaaaah, Hagiwara, you died so tragically (crying loudly)"

"Chao! I, Ji Bao, am not dead yet!!!"

Because of that one slip of the tongue, the next episodes were only watched with great interest by the unsuspecting Huo Mu and Bai Lili.

Especially when Saki Saku killed Kamishiro Chiho with a single sword strike at the very end, Haki exclaimed in surprise repeatedly:

"Wait, Saki-kun, what did you do? Why did this Spider-Man suddenly stop moving?!"

Unlike Huo Mu's shocked expression, Bai Lili was quite understanding.

"Of course it's because Saki-san took off her mask!"

Bai Lili tried to think about it. If the roles were reversed, and she were in that position, she probably would also...

The girl couldn't help but recall the moment a month ago when Saki took off his mask to save her.

At that moment, she felt all the noise around her fade away, and for a moment she was unaware of what the world was.

All he could see was that face; his entire body was paralyzed except for his heartbeat…

Oh no, just a little bit of reminiscing about it and my heart is starting to race again!

I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry...

She is guilty!

She's not clean anymore!

She has let her family down!

I'm so sorry, Mr. Su Shi!

……

After the playback ended, Huang Lu put away the projector.

Looking at the incredibly awkward atmosphere in the ward, he couldn't help but regret that he shouldn't have released this thing in public!

In short, finish explaining things quickly and get out of here first.

The oppressive atmosphere of the hospital room made him feel so uncomfortable that he couldn't bear to stay there any longer!

"Saki-kun, in recognition of your heroic deeds, the Echo Association has decided to cover all your future tuition and fees, as well as provide you with a house."

There are three accommodations to choose from. Once you're feeling better, you can come find me and I'll take you to see them.

"Look, if you have any other requests, just let me know, and I'll help you report them to your superiors."

Qi Ji originally thought that "hero" was just an empty title and he didn't intend to accept it.

After all, the "Fire Thief," now despised by everyone in the City of Fire, was once one of the heroes of the City of Fire.

But upon hearing that becoming a hero would also exempt him from tuition and fees and provide him with housing, he immediately changed his mind.

This hero is great! This hero is perfect!

only--

"Teacher Huang Lu, do you know how to do publicity?"

"Of course! After all, such heroic deeds are the most inspiring to unite people's hearts."

Now that it is wartime, it is even more important to set examples and boost morale.

Not only should we promote it, we should promote it vigorously!

"Once you're feeling better, there will be an exclusive interview, the school will give you recognition, and your interview will be featured in newspapers, radio, television, and so on."

"Such a big fuss?"

Although Sakizawa likes popularity, he likes popularity "outside of the anime series," not within the anime world.

After a moment's thought, he made a small request to Huang Lu:

"Could we postpone these until after the academy competition?"

"Why do you say that?" Huang Lu asked, puzzled.

Saki smiled and casually made up an excuse: "After all, I don't want to beat up my classmates while bearing the title of 'hero'."

Upon hearing this, Huang Lu was even more surprised:

"Ziji-kun? Given your current physical condition, do you still want to participate in the competition?"

Don't worry, even if you don't participate in the competition and miss out on a spot to enter the Sea of ​​Consciousness Mystery Ruins, the association will compensate you in other ways.

After all, you single-handedly defeated a fourth-tier Echoer. If you had participated in the competition normally, you would have been in first place…

"Not alone." Upon hearing this, Qi Ji suddenly interrupted Huang Lu.

"I was able to do it with Ruri's help. If we're talking about heroes, she is one too."

Upon hearing this, Liuli almost burst into tears again, even though she had managed to stop them.

A hero? She?

I'm clearly evil to the core...

Saki-san is well aware of this as well.

He really dares to speak his mind.

Even at a time like this, they still have to comfort me.

Saki-san, you're such an idiot!

You should think more about yourself!

Please, don't make me feel any more guilty.

Because, doesn't this make me feel like I'm no longer worthy of liking you...?

Please, don't take away even my right to secretly like you.

……

"So, Qi Ji, are you really still planning to participate in the academy competition?" Huang Lu asked Qi Ji one last time to confirm.

"of course."

"But your body..."

"No problem... Wow!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Qi Ji couldn't hold back and coughed up another mouthful of blood.

Huang Lu's lips twitched, and in short, he temporarily agreed to Qi Ji's request.

"Then you should get some rest. I won't bother you any longer."

As Huang Lu left, Bai Lili rubbed her stomach and suddenly remembered that she was supposed to go buy breakfast.

But because Saki woke up, he forgot about it.