"Seino, you must be joking, right?" Watanabe Tetsu asked in disbelief, confirming once again.
"I never joke," Seino Rin said coldly, without a hint of humor.
"…Fine, anywhere is still a place to study anyway."
Thinking it over, the Human Observation Club wasn't too bad a place for studying. Besides the air conditioning, the fridge stocked with fruits, juices, and cold drinks—which Yuki Miki still replenished every day even after leaving—there was Seino Rin, a walking Wikipedia who seemed to know everything.
Surprisingly, it was quite a good spot!
Accepting reality boldly and finding its advantages in disappointment would become one of the keys to Watanabe Tetsu's future success.
Honestly, without Yuki Miki around and with no part-time job, Tetsu didn't mind staying in the clubroom to study.
More pressing, however, was another matter: "Ichiki, are you sure Senior Mai Asuka really likes girls? Just preferring to hang out with girls doesn't necessarily define her sexual orientation."
Seino Rin also looked at Ichiki Aoi, waiting for her answer.
Ichiki's face twisted in hesitation. "Thinking about it carefully… I can't be completely sure. A few days ago, during training break, Senior Mai mentioned a guy."
"Can you repeat exactly what she said?" Rin asked.
"We were all talking about a TV drama, then discussing favorite male idols… and eventually, Senior Hanada Asako asked Senior Mai if she thought any guys were handsome."
Recalling the scene, Ichiki grew a little jealous and huffed.
"Senior Mai said, 'The boy who walked past on the elevated corridor that day.' And then Senior Hanada gasped in surprise. Senior Mai added, 'The smile he occasionally shows… it's impossible to resist.'"
Was Mai Asuka actually in that group?
Tetsu had been rushing to the clubroom to get something for Yuki Miki and was busy worrying about monumental matters like "which four islands comprise the Northern Territories dispute," so he hadn't paid much attention to the people around him.
Now, the only face he could recall was a flustered Hanada Asako, cheeks burning red.
Meanwhile, Ichiki's anger level was rising.
"If I ever find out who this guy is, he won't get away with it!"
"And… what exactly would you do to him?" Tetsu asked, pretending curiosity.
"Eh?" Ichiki's voice was uncertain; she hadn't fully thought this through. "Maybe… throw away his indoor shoes?"
"Oh… I see."
"Isn't that too much? Maybe I should start with a warning note?"
"No, not too much. That's just the right level. But I wouldn't use a pink envelope."
Pink would make him think it was a love letter, and it would get discarded without a second thought.
"What color should a cursed note be?"
"Hmm… black?"
"You two," Rin groaned, rubbing her temples.
"Ah, sorry!" Ichiki clasped her hands together apologetically.
Tetsu, meanwhile, didn't care at all.
Yuki Miki, look and learn—this is how school bullying should be done. Your vaporizing antics? A thousand percent wrong!
Rin glanced at Tetsu. From what Ichiki had said about that irresistible smile, Rin already had a pretty good guess who it was.
"So… there's a chance she likes males?" Rin said thoughtfully, looking down. "I think we should first confirm whether Senior Mai really prefers girls. If not, acting rashly could backfire. What do you think, Ichiki?"
"That's best! But… what exactly should we do?"
Rin turned to Tetsu.
"Huh?" Tetsu pointed at his chest. "Rin, you don't mean you want me to ask her, do you?"
Seino Rin placed her hand under her chin. "The simplest method I can think of is to let a male confess. If it fails, you can ask why, and then you'll know if she really likes girls."
"No way!" Ichiki immediately waved her hands in refusal.
"Reason?" Rin asked.
"Well…" Ichiki sneaked a glance at Tetsu. "Watanabe already has a girlfriend."
"Exactly," Tetsu nodded proudly. "I can't do anything that would betray Miki."
Nor would he dare.
"I see. Sorry, I hadn't taken their relationship seriously," Rin said, nodding. "Then I'll do the confessing."
"Huh?!" Tetsu's mouth fell open in surprise.
Rin gave him a knowing, slightly condescending smile. "You don't really think I'm the type to make others do everything and back out when it's my turn, do you?"
Tetsu couldn't help but admire her.
Indeed, apart from him, Seino Rin would also be exceptional in the future. And a girl confessing to another girl just because she wanted to? That already transcended the concept of 'exceptional.'
Tetsu knew he could never confess to a guy.
"Seino… you're glowing," he said.
"Because you're too dark, Watanabe," she replied.
"…I wanted to say I'd be happy to be friends with you…"
"No need, thank you." Rin dismissed him without a second thought.
"…But you don't lie, do you?"
"Tetsu, when someone like you, top of the humanities, confesses, it doesn't have to be a grand statement like 'I swear to everyone at Shinkawa Academy and Yotsuya Station that I love you.' You can just ask differently: 'Do you like me?' or 'Would you go out with me?'"
"Oh…"
"Um," Ichiki whispered, interrupting their one-sided conversation, "I still think it's not okay."
"Why?" Rin always asked humbly when hearing dissenting opinions.
"You're very beautiful, Rin, and I'm afraid if Senior Mai really likes girls, she might say yes to your confession."
In the 'looks club,' is everyone in the looks club?
"My overwhelming charm is indeed an unstable factor," Rin said, crossing her left arm while resting her right hand on her chin, seriously considering what she would do if it happened.
"Wait a second," Tetsu interjected, annoyed. "Ichiki, why didn't you just say you were worried I'm too handsome, and Senior Mai would say yes to me?"
"Well… that's also possible. Anyway, neither Rin nor you can do it!"
"Then we'll have to find another plan." Rin fell into deep thought.
Silence filled the clubroom, with only the soft, steady patter of the June rains seeping through the windows.
Tetsu gazed at Yotsuya Station, shrouded in the rainy season, and suddenly remembered his recent phone call with his parents.
"Good job on the exams, but don't overdo it. Spend time with friends too."
"Rainy days make clothes hard to dry—buy a few extra, we sent you money."
"Nothing much at home, just irrigating rice paddies. Your dad bought a few ducks—when you come back for summer, they'll be ready to eat."
All ordinary topics, yet Tetsu felt a pang of regret for not going home during the three-day weekend. He should have visited.
"Guess we'll have to observe in person," he murmured.
Tetsu snapped back to the present as Rin spoke up.
"Observe?" Ichiki, finishing her tea, looked puzzled.
"Yes," Rin lifted her head. "You can tell subtle differences in how someone interacts depending on whether they like boys or girls. Ichiki."
"Yes?"
"Could you invite Senior Mai Asuka to hang out tomorrow? Tetsu and I will accompany you as friends."
"Wait a second," Tetsu raised his hand. "Why me? Shouldn't you just let Ichiki invite her actual male friend?"
Last time he went out alone with Tamamo Konomi, Yuki Miki had warned him. Now, with three girls? Was this some kind of daily-life discomfort turned 'being hunted by a conglomerate' scenario?
Rin gave him a look, like someone playing arcade games with teammates who suck but they have no choice. She sighed.
"Besides me, there aren't many ordinary female students at Shinkawa Academy who don't care about looks. If you randomly chose a boy, do you think Senior Mai would waver between me, irresistible as I am, and him? Among all the boys at Shinkawa, only you are barely close to my level."
"Barely close?"
"Huh?" Rin tilted her head, puzzled by Tetsu's question.
"Never mind."
'Barely close, indeed. You're a mere nine points, approaching my ten. Even when I'm not smiling, I'm still nine.'
Tetsu thought, then said, "Thanks for acknowledging my charm, but I still refuse."
"Reason?"
"I have a girlfriend, and she gets extremely jealous. I can't go out with other girls."
"No need to worry. I'll guarantee it for you. Miki will know it's for club activity, not for hitting on other girls."
"Aren't you supposed to be an enemy?"
"Yes, but that doesn't compromise my credibility. Do you think I'm a liar like you, constantly full of nonsense?"
Tetsu knew she was hinting again at the fact that he hadn't told Yuki Miki a single truthful word.
"If anything goes wrong, you take responsibility. Then I'm fine."
"Of course, I'll be responsible."
Tetsu felt something odd about that, but whatever. As long as he stayed cautious, and with 'Lie-Detecting Rin' watching, Yuki Miki should understand.
Also, according to what Tetsu learned from books, showing a bit of popularity is a valid way to enhance the feelings, possessiveness, and satisfaction of a wealthy, overprotective heiress. Worth a try.
However…
"I'll bring Kunii Osamu and Saito Keisuke. They're my classmates and were interested in joining the Human Observation Club."
Rin chuckled lightly. "Whatever."
She wasn't laughing at Kunii or Saito—they weren't worth it. She was laughing at Tetsu's timidity.
"What's that expression! Let me explain—this isn't fear or cowardice. It's prudence. Prudence, understand?"
"Cowardice is relative. If you say so, fine." Rin dismissed him and returned her gaze to Ichiki.
"Can you do it, Ichiki?"
"Invite… Senior Mai to hang out?" Ichiki hesitated.
"Since you joined the Human Observation Club, you should be ready for this."
Thinking that Senior Mai would graduate soon and that she might never get another chance after this summer, Ichiki steeled herself.
"I'll do my best!"
"Good, I'm counting on you."
"No, it's us who should be thanking you." Ichiki waved her hands. "Oh, let's add each other on LINE for easier communication about time and place."
"LINE?" Rin shook her head.
"Eh?!!"
"Not having LINE is that unbelievable?" Rin looked at Tetsu, seeking confirmation.
Tetsu wanted to mock her but couldn't lie.
"Not really," he admitted. "Before coming to Tokyo, I only contacted friends in the village by landline. No cell phone, let alone LINE."
Rin nodded, giving Ichiki a look that said, 'See, nothing surprising here.'
Ichiki didn't know what to say. Were these two living in the Showa era?
Seeing her expression, Rin took the initiative: "I'll download it, just for helping you complete this task, Ichiki."
"Thanks, Rin!"
Ichiki then taught Rin how to install LINE and register an account.
"Rin, this is the ID, not your real name."
"I noticed everyone in Ichiki's account uses their real name."
"That's just my personal notes for adding friends!"
"Then why not use real names from the start if everyone knows each other?"
"Sometimes I add strangers. Before confirming friendship, using an ID is more convenient."
"I'm not adding strangers. I'll only use this app briefly—real name is fine."
"Oh… I see."
"And essentially, LINE is no different from email. Why download it specifically?"
"Because it's more convenient, can share group chats, has a stylish interface, and lots of cute stickers!"
"Really… wait, can I see that moving dolphin sticker again?"
Tetsu watched Rin completely immersed, thinking she was like his mother discovering Amazon shopping—once resistant, now hooked.
From middle-aged women in his village to a beautiful, friendless academy girl—what a terrifying force the internet is!
Possibly even more charming than him!
After setting up the chat group, Ichiki said she'd contact everyone tonight and left the clubroom. Tetsu stayed until school ended, then left.
The rain continued steadily outside.
On the way to the arcade with Kunii Osamu and Saito Keisuke, Tetsu told them about the possible outing tomorrow.
"Tetsu! You're the best human friend ever!"
"Finally, the day is here! Socializing, hooray—!!!"
They didn't listen at all.
No matter.
"As a thank-you, you guys treat me today. Kunii, games. Saito, food."
"No problem!"
"We got this!"
Seeing their enthusiasm, Tetsu smiled.
Later, while listening to the evening English broadcast, the host mentioned a work trip where he could spend money freely, and Tetsu remembered: he shouldn't rely on others to treat him, especially with his monthly 1,000,000 yen spending quota!