The activity room had long since emptied, leaving only two people behind.
"Thanks," Watanabe Tetsu said to Kiyono Rin.
"As expected of the 'Tokyo Pretty Boy,'" Rin sneered. "You don't even like her, yet you can still pull off something as humiliating as a courtyard confession."
From her perspective, a confession with not a word of sincerity was nothing short of deceiving Yuki Miki's feelings. Naturally, she had every reason to look down on Tetsu.
"There's a reason I had no choice but to do it."
"Money?"
"No."
"Then Yuki's young, attractive body?"
"Well… compared to you, who practically has no chest at all, Miki is a bit more charming."
After a pause, Tetsu added, "Physically speaking, I mean."
"Tetsu, that's extremely rude. It may not be huge, but there is a slight curve, thank you very much. Besides, there's no such thing as a human with 'absolutely no chest.'"
Tetsu couldn't help letting his eyes drift toward Rin's chest. It did look like there was a tiny bit of elevation.
"What are you staring at?" Her expression instantly chilled.
"Your ribbon looks really neat today."
"So you've finally found a way around my lie-detection ability."
"That's only if you choose not to press me on it," Tetsu said modestly.
Rin gave no response. She simply gathered her black hair—disrupted by the breeze coming through the window—and tucked it neatly behind her delicate ear.
"My tolerance is as deep as Lake Tazawa. Even if an ignorant subordinate says something mildly disrespectful, I don't take it to heart."
"Lake Tazawa?"
"The deepest lake in the country. Anyway, enough topic switching. Answer my question."
So even talking about her chest wasn't enough to derail her?
"Rin, I'm grateful for your help, really. But about this matter… let me tell you the reason when the day comes that I fall in love with you."
After he finished speaking, Rin sighed as if she had no idea what to do with him.
"I've done so much for you already. Isn't it about time you started falling for me? Am I still not perfect enough?"
Perfect? Aside from your beauty and genius-level intellect, you're basically useless, you know?
Tetsu only thought it. He knew better than to ever say it.
Especially since the self-proclaimed "Lake Tazawa-level tolerant" Kiyono Rin actually had a terrifyingly petty side. Saying that out loud would absolutely enrage her.
And once a woman gets angry, she'll do anything.
If she exposed all his lies to Yuki Miki, then what?
He still had three more girls to攻略 before this was over. He needed to keep playing the role of "Yuki Miki's dedicated boyfriend" for now.
But after what happened today, how was he even supposed to攻略 the other three next? It was a massive headache.
Seeing Tetsu fall silent, Rin—who considered herself absolutely flawless—began to feel a headache of her own. She unconsciously pressed her fingertips to her temple.
"…I've decided."
"Decided what?" Tetsu snapped out of his thoughts.
"After the midterm exams, the Human Observation Club's next activity will be… helping a girl find a boyfriend."
Tetsu instantly understood her intention.
"You're planning to learn how to攻略 a boy from someone else's experience? Sorry, but that's impossible."
"Reason?" Rin didn't get angry. If anything, she asked as though she genuinely wanted advice.
"Say a boy masters the skills needed to make a girl fall for him. Do you think he can use those same methods to make you fall for him?"
"Tetsu, comparing yourself to me is overestimating yourself by several lifetimes."
Tetsu clicked his tongue.
In the entire Human Observation Club, he was the only one who wasn't a narcissist. The other two were already beyond saving.
"The method might not be the same, but the thought process can be useful," Rin explained. "It's certainly better than sitting around daydreaming."
"That's true… but I still don't think it'll work."
"If there isn't a compelling reason not to do it," Rin said indifferently, "and you simply think it won't work, then you'll follow your president's orders."
"Rin, I think you misunderstood." Tetsu smiled.
"After the exams, you won't be the one calling the shots in the Human Observation Club."
Because after that… the club activity will be fashion design!!!
Rin rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a moment.
"I don't see any possible future where that happens."
"…Are you even thinking seriously? No—if you did think seriously and still said that, it hurts even more!"
Rin let out a short laugh, then coughed lightly.
"In any case, you should start preparing."
"Yes, yes. As you command, my president."
Tetsu's tone was dripping with sarcasm, his rebellious intentions painfully obvious.
It was time to prepare.
Time to prepare maid outfits, nurse uniforms, police uniforms, shrine maiden outfits, sailor uniforms, gothic styles, lolita styles, cat ears, dog tails—everything!
Filled with vigor and determination, Tetsu left the activity room.
On the way back to the main building, he checked his system notifications:
[Activity 2 Complete: Successfully reconciled with Yuki Miki]
[Player has obtained permission to purchase: Master-Level Piano for 5000 points]
[Yuki Miki Sign-In Continues]
[Sign-In Progress: Yuki Miki · 8 days]
Redeeming a master-level skill worth 100,000 points for only 5,000 was a steal, but Piano felt a bit useless at the moment. Maybe later, when he had more points to spare.
Today was the 29th. In two days, a new month would begin, and the shop would refresh items and skills. His dwindling points needed to be saved carefully.
He also wondered whether Miki's monthly sign-in rewards would give the same massive amount of points as during her攻略.
If he could get another 200,000 points, maybe it wouldn't change his whole life, but it would certainly give him a lot more choices.
He hadn't even reached Classroom 4 yet when someone blocked his path.
It was the unethical journalists from the News Club.
"Tetsu, sorry to take your time. May we interview you for a moment?"
"Sorry, I have Japanese class this afternoon."
Tetsu didn't break stride, heading straight for his classroom.
Hase Momoka immediately followed, while Nishikawa Yuya kept pace with perfect camera stability.
"Was today's confession a sudden decision, or was it planned in advance?"
"No comment."
"Did Yuki Miki accept your confession?"
"No comment."
"Despite the exam bet, you chose to confess now. Does that mean you're not confident about taking first place?"
"…"
Who the hell started that rumor?
The News Club—it was you, wasn't it!?
"Is your silence an admission? Then who do you think will take first place?"
"No comment."
"Discipline Committee member Kurosawa says she's determined to expel you. Any thoughts on that?"
"Expel me?" Tetsu laughed.
She was certainly motivated—more than the principal, apparently. As just a discipline officer, she thought she could purge all the 'corruption' from Shinkawa Academy?
Sorry, but… he was only getting started.
He still had three more girls to攻略.
Seeing Tetsu finally respond, Momoka's eyes lit up.
"Yes! She says you're a blemish on Shinkawa Academy and must be removed."
"Well then, I'll be waiting for her," Tetsu said calmly.
"Last question: you, Rin, and Miki are all in the same club. Yet you chose to confess to Yuki Miki. Does this mean Rin Kiyono is inferior to her?"
What kind of question was that?
Those two were equally terrible in their own special ways.
"No comment."
"You won't answer this one either? Since you're not loudly saying Miki is better, does that mean Rin is actually the one you prefer?"
…Is it illegal to punch a journalist?