The moment I stepped into the cssroom, all eyes briefly turned to me. Some of my cssmates greeted me with enthusiasm, while others simply gave polite nods. I returned their greetings with a small smile, my voice even and composed.

  "Good morning."

  As expected, a few whispered among themselves after I passed, but I paid them no mind. At this point, I’m used to it. Whether it was my status, my looks, or just pin curiosity, people tended to focus on me. It was something I had learned to navigate with ease.

  Sliding into my seat, I turned to Jay, the ever-silent and mysterious type.

  "Morning, Jay," I said, my tone casual.

  Jay met my gaze and gave a small nod. That was it. No words, no unnecessary pleasantries. Just a simple acknowledgment. 'Cssic Jay'.

  I pulled out my tablet, immediately tapping through a few files, my mind already preoccupied.

  The school’s special event was coming up soon, and after some consideration, I had decided to perform. Not just for the sake of it, but because it was the perfect opportunity to test my skills and ideas in a real-world setting.

  And, of course, a great chance to promote my upcoming company.

  Killing two birds with one stone? No, no I was going to kill three.

  Yesterday, I had purchased a song through my system, and now I was in the process of arranging it. Every detail needed to be perfect—instrumentals, sound bance, stage presence, and, most importantly, the overall impact.

  But music wasn’t the only thing I needed to prepare.

  My wardrobe had to be carefully selected, down to the st accessory. Props, microphones, and any other necessary equipment had to meet my standards. Technically, the school provided these things for students, but Alexei, my dear overprotective brother, would never let me settle for anything "cheap."

  "My little princess." (Yes, he always called me that.) "Do you want your delicate hands to break from such low-quality material? Absolutely not. I will handle everything." I could already hear him saying.

  Honestly, if he could, he’d probably have me wear a custom-made designer school uniform just to avoid the 'common' fabric.

  It was kind of funny. And a little over the top. But at the end of the day, I wasn’t going to argue if he wanted to shower me with the best.

  As I was adjusting the sound levels on my tablet, I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder.

  I blinked and turned to see Jay looking at me with his usual unreadable expression.

  I tilted my head slightly, offering a polite smile. "What's wrong?"

  Jay didn’t say anything. Instead, he gnced toward Daniel, then back at me.

  Then, with the same neutral expression, he pointed at Daniel.

  And then at me.

  I stared at him for a second before realization hit. "...Are you asking if we’re dating?"

  Jay gave a single nod.

  For a brief moment, I was stunned into silence. Then, I let out a soft chuckle. "No, and I don’t pn to."

  Jay nodded again, his expression unchanged, but his lips curled up just slightly, as if satisfied with my answer.

  But inside? I was ughing.

  'Me? With Daniel? No way'.

  In fact, if there was one thing I would never do, it was ruin one of my favorite ships.

  Yes, you heard that right. I hardcore shipped Jay x Daniel.

  Back in my old world, I had been an unwavering believer in their dynamic. And now that I was here? Nothing was going to change that. If anything, I was even more determined to make it happen.

  And besides, I wasn’t interested in people with pickles, if you get what I mean.

  Shaking my head slightly, I refocused on my screen.

  Today, I pnned to change something.

  I was going to help Duke.

  Duke Pyeon—the best rapper in Lookism, and yet, one of the most overlooked and underappreciated characters. The guy had insane talent but little recognition, and that just didn’t sit right with me. If I had the power to change that, I would.

  And I knew exactly how to start.

  I needed an excuse to approach him naturally, without making it seem too intentional.

  Which is why, this morning, I had deliberately left my lunchbox at home.

  It was a simple pn—pretend to have forgotten my lunch, find Duke, and start a conversation. From there, I’d have the perfect opportunity to gauge his skills and pnt the first seed of my recruitment offer.

  What? You’re asking if I can pull it off?

  Please.

  Did you forget about my skill "Masterful Acting"?

  ================================

  As the lunch bell rang, I pced my hands on my bag and started rummaging through it. My movements were precise—just enough to look natural, but also noticeable to those around me.

  Then, I let out a small, controlled gasp. "Ah."

  The cssroom went silent, students turning to look in my direction.

  I lifted my head, my expression subtly shifting into one of mild panic. "Where’s my lunchbox...?" I murmured to no one in particur, my voice just loud enough to be heard.

  And just as I expected—immediate reactions.

  "You can have mine!" someone immediately offered.

  "What do you want? I'll go buy it for you!" another voice chimed in.

  "I can share my food with you!"

  Some students immediately offered their lunches. Others looked ready to run out and buy something for me on the spot.

  I had assumed someone might offer, but I hadn’t expected this level of concern.

  'Wow. I knew I was well-liked, but this is next level'.

  I quickly waved my hands, shaking my head. "No, no, I couldn’t possibly take your lunch. That wouldn’t be fair. And what will you eat if I took it?"

  I smiled politely, making sure to look grateful yet firm.

  Then, I reached into my bag and grabbed my wallet. I stood up, fully prepared to leave when—

  I heard a voice behind me.

  "You don’t mind if we go with you, right?"

  I paused, just for a second—long enough to make it look natural.

  Then, I turned around.

  Daniel was looking at me, his expression calm but expectant.

  'Interesting'.

  I met his gaze and, after a brief hesitation (for effect, of course), I nodded. "...I don’t mind."

  As we walked out together, I allowed myself a small, triumphant smile.

  'Success!'

  Mission 'Befriend Duke and Recruit Him' is now in motion.