"Do you come here often, Ayanokouji-kun?" I asked, trying to keep my tone relaxed. If this counted as a nice interaction, maybe I'd finally gain some Favorability Points. But so far, no notifications.
"Not really," he replied, glancing at the trees with his usual detached calm. "I'm not big on outdoor activities."
"Ah," I replied, attempting to read any shift in his expression. "It's a good place for observing others, though. The way people just… exist here." Perhaps he'd appreciate the strategic potential of the setting?
What the heck am I saying? Am I that desperate to gain some points with my support character?
He raised an eyebrow, "Observing others, huh? Is that what you were doing?"
"No, forget what I said please." Caught off guard and embarrassed, I looked away, trying to feign nonchalance.
I paused, searching for the right words. "It's something people do in games, too. Gathering intel."
"You think life can be treated like a game?" His question was casual, yet something in his tone felt almost like a challenge.
"Well," I said, straightening my posture, "isn't it? Strategizing, earning points, setting goals." I tilted my head, confident in my logic. "It's efficient."
His gaze shifted away from me as if he were hiding a private amusement. "That sounds exhausting if you ask me."
A moment of silence stretched between us. I tried to shake off my discomfort. Somehow, sitting here felt both strangely comforting and eerily off.
"Anyway, aren't we in the same class?" I said, returning to my original goal. "Shouldn't we try to get along better? Let's get to know each other and work together in the future."
"Maybe," he said at last, looking up at the sky. "Or maybe just talking like this is enough."
Despite his answer, I felt no satisfaction. No progress. No reward. Just… a hollow sensation, like something important had slipped my mind.
As we continued sitting on the bench, I tried to steer the conversation, hoping for some kind of reaction. But Ayanokouji, it seemed, was far more interested in his ice cream than in talking with me. Each time I tried to say something meaningful, he would only nod, take another slow lick of his ice cream, and glance somewhere off into the distance.
Frustration crept up on me. This is supposed to be a bonding opportunity with my supposedly support character.
I wanted to gain some ground, and make real progress in establishing friendship… yet here he was, focused solely on his dessert, as if my efforts were of little consequence.
With a sigh, I decided to change tactics. "You know what, Ayanokouji-kun," I said, forcing myself to sound casual, "why don't I buy you another ice cream? You know, since we're… friends."
And then it happened.
PING!
[You gained 5 Favorability Points with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.]
I blinked in surprise. Just… this? Buying him another ice cream? All that effort in conversation, and all I had to do was offer him something sweet? The simplicity of it felt almost absurd.
Still recovering from my shock, I glanced at him. "Do you… like sweet things?" I asked, now genuinely curious.
He looked at me, finishing off the last of his ice cream. "It's… an interesting taste," he replied as if considering each word. "Not something I'd seek out often, but there's a certain appeal in it."
"Interesting?" I echoed, unable to keep a slight frown off my face. "So, you don't actually like it?"
Ayanokouji shrugged, "Let's say… it's the kind of taste that grows on you. Like certain people."
I glared at him.
His words—half-teasing, half-irritating—left me momentarily at a loss. I couldn't tell if he was joking or making a point I should understand. All I knew was that, somehow, this small, almost trivial exchange had gotten me closer to him than any strategy I'd planned.
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Skip.
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Sitting across from Mii-chan in the café, I tried to maintain a neutral and cool expression despite her palpable enthusiasm. As I sipped my chocolate milkshake, I braced myself for what I hoped would be a straightforward conversation.
"So, Horikita-san, what do you think about our Private Points?" she asked, leaning slightly forward.
I was surprised, didn't expect her to talk about this.
"Private Points are more than just numbers," I replied mysteriously, keeping my tone steady. "You should be careful when you spend them, Mii-chan."
Mii-chan looked intrigued, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"
I took a moment to gather my thoughts. "This school is about more than just academics. It's about improving students and forcing them to grow. We're all here to develop our skills, not just in class, but also in navigating our relationships... I guess."
Her expression turned thoughtful. "That makes sense! Horikita-san is really smart. Is the school trying to make us care?"
"Exactly. And understanding that can help us thrive, especially in this environment," I said, trying to gauge her reaction.
Mii-chan nodded, a blush spreading across her face. "Speaking of stories, I have to tell you about Hirata-kun!"
I raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What about him?"
"W-well, you know, he's just so kind and reliable! I admire how he helps others and keeps everyone motivated," she gushed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "And he's really good at sports, too! It's impressive."
I couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement at her excitement. "It sounds like you really like him."
"E-eh!? I mean, he's not just good at what he does; he genuinely cares about people. T-that's rare, don't you think?"
"Definitely," I replied, considering my own feelings about those around me. "But remember, it's important to see the whole picture. No one is perfect."
Mii-chan nodded, her eyes drifting to her cup. "Yeah, you're right. It's just nice to have someone like him in class. You as well, Horikita-san."
As we talked, I realized that despite my initial reservations, our conversation felt oddly comfortable. There was something refreshing about connecting with her on this level, away from the pressures of academics.
"Do you think Hirata would ever date someone like me?" she asked suddenly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Isn't it a little too early?"
I sighed at her puppy eyes.
"Why not? You're kind, intelligent, and have a good heart," I reassured her, feeling oddly protective of this adorable little creature.
Mii-chan smiled shyly, her confidence visibly bolstered. "Thanks, Horikita-san! That means a lot coming from you."
I waved her gratitude away, but inwardly, I felt a sense of accomplishment. In some way, I was helping her navigate her own main story.
"By the way," Mii-chan said, a playful glint in her eyes, "I think Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-kun seem pretty close. Is there something between you two?"
Her words hit me and made me almost sputter my chocolate milkshake. I froze for a moment and contemplated. Did we seem close? A part of me wanted to deny it outright, but I found myself pondering something deeper. Did the original Horikita have a relationship with Ayanokouji? The game didn't provide any hints or options for romance, which made me curious and really-really nervous.
My silence stretched on, and Mii-chan took my hesitation as confirmation. "I mean, you guys just seem to have this aura, you know?"
Aura? I pushed the thought aside, but it lingered like an echo in my mind. Was there something there that I hadn't noticed? Was I missing a piece of the puzzle? Ayanokouji had always been enigmatic to me, but was there more beneath the surface?
Wait, were my thoughts just now truly my own?
"Maybe," I finally said, trying to play it cool. "We work well together in class."
Mii-chan beamed at my response, oblivious to my internal turmoil. "That's awesome! I think you two would make a great pair."
"Not like that," I replied quickly, shaking my head. "We're just friends."
"Just friends, huh?" She teased, leaning back in her chair. "Well, I think you should definitely spend more time together."
I waved my hand dismissively, but my mind raced with questions. As we continued to chat about trivial things, I couldn't shake the feeling that Mii-chan had stumbled upon something I hadn't even realized I was pondering.
The café buzzed with conversation around us, but all I could focus on was the lingering thought: Did I need to rethink my relationship with Ayanokouji?
It's just the beginning of the year, there is no way I'm going to be thinking about this.
Nope, Mii-chan definitely has a bad influence on me.
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Skip.
Skip.
Skip.
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I was currently at the swimming pool with the rest of my class. This event was quite dull and added little value to my day, so I focused on winning the swimming competition among the girls to earn some points from the teacher.
Unfortunately, I soon discovered that I was terrible at swimming. While I wasn't surprised by this revelation, I still felt a tinge of disappointment when my body failed to find its rhythm and kept going without my active effort. Ugh!
"Is everything okay, Horikita-san? Don't worry; everyone has off days sometimes!" Kushida's words annoyed me for some reason as if she were mocking me. Without a word, I distanced myself from her. I was done trying to improve our relationship. I felt too uncomfortable around her to even bother.
"You look like you're in a bad mood. Was losing at swimming that awful?" Ayanokouji's voice cut through my thoughts, his tone a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"I don't want to hear it from you, who didn't even try," I snapped back, refusing to look at him as I spoke.
"Hey, I just didn't want to embarrass myself," he replied, a hint of jest in his voice. "Besides, you'll have plenty of chances to improve."
"Improve?" I scoffed, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I can't keep up with everyone, especially when it comes to swimming or sport."
Then, I murmured under my nose, "Maybe I should focus on raising my stats or something."
"Stats?" he raised an eyebrow, somehow overhearing my words.
"Swimming skills, obviously. I mean, how hard can it be?" I muttered, crossing my arms as I felt my cheeks flush slightly. "But clearly, I need to work on my endurance and technique. Maybe I should join a club or something to get better."
"Clubs could definitely help," he said thoughtfully. "And who knows? You might even enjoy it."
"I don't know what are you talking about."
"Hmm." he mused, "But didn't you want to join the Student Council?"
I couldn't help but glance at him.
"Maybe. But I just want to be better at this. I can't let my class down after all."
"You're dedicated, aren't you? That's one of your strong points, I suppose."
My irritation faded, replaced by a reluctant smile. "Thanks, I guess."
"Just don't expect me to swim laps with you anytime soon."
"Sure Mr. I don't want trouble, let me add that to my list of 'things I didn't think I'd ever do," I replied, feeling a sense of relief spread through me.
As I stood up free of my frustration, I couldn't help but notice the commotion around the pool. The girls from my class had completely shifted their focus to Hirata, who was now gliding effortlessly through the water.
"Look at him! He swims like a pro!" one of the girls squealed, her voice a mix of admiration and awe. Another chimed in, "I bet he could win a gold medal!"
I rolled my eyes, trying to concentrate, but it was hard to ignore their enthusiasm. It was like they were all under some spell, fawning over him as if he were some kind of swimming god. I mean, sure, he was good, but did they have to make it so obvious?
No, actually. It's their fault for being like this.
Poor Hirata whose face is so awkward.
"Wow, Hirata-kun! You're so fast!" another girl shouted, practically bouncing on the edge of the pool.
The teacher tried to stop them.
And then there was Koenji, who had his usual smug grin plastered across his face. "You see, this is what happens when you're naturally gifted," he proclaimed loudly, striking a pose. "While everyone else struggles, I'm practically a legend in the water. You are good Hirata-boy, however I'm a true sight."
I couldn't help but snicker at his theatrics. "Legend?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. "More like a wannabe."
Just then, Hirata emerged from the water, wiping his face and looking a bit flustered by the attention. "Uh, thanks, everyone. I'm just trying my best," he said, scratching the back of his neck with a weak smile.
The girls erupted into more cheers, and I couldn't help but smirk at the sight. It was amusing, really, how quickly they turned into a cheering squad.
"Maybe I should just swim next to him," I thought, trying to push away the competitive spirit that was flaring up inside me. But honestly, it felt ridiculous to let my performance be overshadowed by Hirata's charm and the girls' infatuation.
As I turned back to Ayanokouji, I caught him watching the scene. "Looks like Hirata's the only one not struggling for attention, unlike you," I teased.
"Thanks for the reminder. I think I'm going to cry." he shot back, though a small smile crept onto my face at his sarcasm. Despite the chaos around me, I was grateful for the brief moments of levity on this otherwise frustrating day.
