Gamers!

Volume 2, Chapter 6: Gamers and Flying Get [1]

TL: qbomb

Editor: Deus Ex Machina

“Sorry, but I just want to be good friends.”

“Eh~, what the hell, mou!”

When my third confession failed, I looked up and threw a tantrum. Even though I was rejected, my reaction was excessive, stubborn, and rude… but it’s nothing to be worried about.

After all, the person I was confessing to was a 2D heroine inside of a monitor.

…Don’t tell me that this is really pathetic. I’m aware of it myself; after all, I’m sitting here by myself, cursing at a dating sim because I don’t know what to do.

But even though I’m aware of it, I can’t stop shouting at the screen.

“What’s so bad about me…”

Collapsing on my bed face up, I mumbled like a snobby secondary character as I vacantly gazed at the controller that dropped from my hand.

It’s been five days… since I started the dating sim “Golden Tricks”. As for my progress, I’ve captured one heroine a day. I waited until the time was right to start capturing the last heroine, which was my favorite. However, the result of the three confessions to the blond honors student, Frau Heavenly, was…[2]

I groaned while I scratched my head and pulled on my hair in frustration.

“Ah~, mou, I don’t get it.. I have no idea where I made the wrong choice.”

In the beginning, my goals was to capture last heroine in one go without any mistakes. But… I made a mistake sometime, and my confession scene failed.

In my surprise, I thought about the choices I made and tried to figure out where I failed. In my second attempt, where I meticulously thought over my choices and was careful about what I said… I was rejected again.

When things got to that point, I realized that I was making some fundamental mistake, and I over-enthusiastically challenged it for the third time. Using the quick save and load function, I closely examined all of Frau’s reactions from each of the possible choices and intentionally tried my best to stay away from all the other heroines. My perfect confession—was a tragic shipwreck.

I threw myself onto the bed while badmouthing the game.

As the strangely melancholic and simplistic ending credits of the bad end rolled, I let out a big sigh.

“(…Why did things turn out like this… Of all people, why am I only bad at this character…)”

While looking up at the ceiling, I got mad at myself, Amano Keita, for being in this miserable state. It may appear over-the-top for a simple dating sim game, but…

To be honest, Frau looked similar to Tendo-san.

“(…After leaving the heroine that looks like Tendo-san for last, I was tragically rejected…)”

Actually, none of the reviews and the rumors say that Frau’s route was difficult in any sense. In other words, none of the other players had any difficulties clearing her route. I was the only person stuck. I don’t understand how a woman’s heart works at all. …No, that’s wrong. Rather than “a woman’s heart”, “Tendo-san’s heart” would be more accurate. After all, I was able to capture the other heroines without any problems.

Even in this situation, the fact that I had to look up information on the last heroine is irritating. Having said that, going through the game once again takes 40 minutes, even if I skip through all the dialogue. I don’t have a strategy in mind, nor do I have the energy to go through the game a fourth time.

“…Hah.”

I let out a big sigh and turned off the console.

Feeling dead tired, I stayed on my bed and started playing a social network game.

“Amano, don’t call this a love consultation.”

When my curt friend responded like that, I clung onto him in a panic saying “no no no”and held him back.

It was after school on Wednesday. When I went to go spend my time doing nonsense, or in other words, go to the Gamers Hobby Club, I gathered up my courage and went to Uehara-kun for consultation, but his response was really cold.

After making sure that I had time before Chiaki comes, who was in another class, I kept trying to get him to talk to me.

“I’m not here for anything like that. I-I think this’ll help me get closer to Tendo-san. Please?”

Uehara-kun ignored me, who was desperately clinging onto him, and casually picked at his ear with his pinky.

“I mean, since you have a real girlfriend, Uehara-kun, capturing a heroine in a dating sim should be a piece of cake, right? Please teach me nicely, Uehara-kun.”

“…Amano.”

“Yes?”

Uehara-kun suddenly let out a big sigh and shook his finger while saying, “Oh my”… He then crossed his arms and started to talk like he was about to criticize me.

“I’m going to tell you the shocking truth starting now, which may be a bit of a surprise for an otaku like you.”

I sensed that he would say some harsh words, so I looked away and tried to stop him in a panic.

“Oh… S-sorry, you really don’t have to help! I don’t want to hear!”

“A dating sim game—”

“Ah, ah, ah, I-I can’t hear you—”

“—doesn’t actually simulate real life dating!”

“Don’t say it!”

Having been stabbed by the harsh truth, the herbivorous young boy trembled.

Uehara-kun looked down at me with a pitiful gaze as he continued to talk.

“So, even though I have a girlfriend—Rather, because I have a girlfriend, I can’t give you advice about dating sims. Even though they look similar… they’re two completely different things!”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

When Uehara-kun told me what I had been suspecting, I put my head on my desk, feeling crestfallen….

…I then groaned.

“Then… then, all the experience I’ve gotten from the game about talking to girls is…”

“Sorry, Amano. Actually, the experience you got is only for your interaction level with the heroines… in reality, your interaction level with girls hasn’t increased at all!”

“W-what!?”

“The opposite is also true. So, I’m not able to give you advice. You’re probably way better at dating sims than I am. Yo, Simulation God!”

“What kind of disgraceful nickname is ‘Simulation God’!? I-I’m not a ‘Simulation God’!”

“By the way, Amano, how many gal games have you completed just during your second year?”

“Um… around 40?”

“Congratulations, Amano.”

Suddenly, Uehara-kun handed me a sheet of paper. In big letters, the words “Simulation God” were written in huge letters with a sharpie. It’s something like a certificate.

After Uehara-kun saw me slump my shoulders, he said “Well, it’s just a joke”, and continued talking.

“Actually though, I don’t know even if you ask me. I don’t do those kind of gal games.”

“Y-you’re kidding. Don’t be shy and just say it honestly—”

“No, I’m serious. Really. Or rather, it’s just Amano-kun. A normal boy wouldn’t play gal games at all. Your sense of values are clearly biased because of your otaku nature.”

“T-then where do normal boys vent their feelings of desire for girls—”

“Normally, it’s AVs.”

Although I felt dazed momentarily, I regained my wits and let out a sad sigh in disappointment.

“…What is with the youth of Japan these days…”

“No no no, that’s what I should be saying to you.”

“It would be better if it was an eroge…”

“No, it’s your tastes that are strange. Simply speaking, you’re different. In a sense, your preferences are hardcore.”

After talking like he was amazed, Uehara-kun cleared his throat and returned to the main point.

“In the first place, why are you being so stubborn, Amano? If you’re coming to me for advice, just ask online first.”

It was a reasonable opinion, but I said, “No,” while I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.

“This kind of adventure… especially for things like heroines of dating sims, feels a lot more empathetic to make my own decisions while looking over the choices instead of following a guide…”

“Hoho, so in other words, you want to learn how to become friends with Tendo-san by yourself. What a man.”

My heart jumped up when he got it exactly right. I tried to deny it in a panic.

“N-no, what are you saying!? I’m talking about the game, the game!”

While trying to smooth over the situation, I reflected on my actions. I realized that I had superimposed reality onto games more than necessary, and that I had dug myself into a hole that I couldn’t get out of.

I let out a sigh, thinking about how this whole situation was pathetic. Looking bothered, Uehara-kun scratched his head and started to talk again.

“If you feel troubled about trying to use your experience capturing heroines in real life, just worry about reality itself. That would work much better.”

“? What do you mean?”

“I mean. …Isn’t it about time that you approach Tendo herself?”

“Eh…”

My eyes spun at Uehara-kun’s suggestion.

“What are you saying, Uehara-kun? Right now, I’m less than a flea to Tendo-san, so if I were to go up to her now… I still need to learn how to talk to girls. Did you forget?”

“I didn’t forget. I’m telling you this because I didn’t forget.”

“What do you mean?”

“…What do I mean? …Hah. You…”

“Hmm?”

Uehara-kun looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, “How did you not realize yet?”

And then… he approached the crux of the matter.

“Don’t you already talk to Tendo rather normally compared to other girls?”

“—Eh?”

I froze for an instant, thinking about what he said. During that pause, Uehara-kun continued to talk.

“Well, Hoshinomori goes without saying… and I don’t really know much, but I’ve seen you talking to Aguri. And then… I mean, you talked to Tendo when you guys met and went to play medal games, right?”

“Y-yea, we did go play medal games together, but…”

What is Uehara-kun trying to say? For a mob character like me to talk to Tendo-san normally… wait… …

“Comparatively!?”

“You just noticed!?”

I stood up from my chair with a clang and shouted, eyes wide. Uehara-kun also replied in surprise.

I-I guess that’s true. When we were playing medal games, I was nervous as always and experienced strong feelings of awe, but I feel like I was able to properly communicate. Well, though that may be true, the mood wasn’t very good. Eventually, it became a competition between the two of us. In other words, I ended up losing and showed her my disgraceful side. Yea.

I was going to tell him that, but Uehara-kun said “No, that’s not what I meant”, and listlessly massaged the back of his neck.

“I wasn’t talking about winning or losing. Because you two played together without special reasons like ‘club activities’, I think you have already fulfilled the requirements to be considered as ‘friends’ now.”

“U-umm, is that so?”

Honestly speaking, I’ve never thought about how close I am to Tendo-san. Every time we meet, I only think about my temper or about how I should act.

Since we’re pretty much “acquaintances”, I’ve always talked and acted like such, but… well, it’s not like there’s anything more than that between us. Rather, I often think that she still hates me.

Also, the reason why Tendo-san is getting close to me is… probably because she wants to get closer to Uehara-kun.

She’s employing the tactic of “If you want to aim for the general, aim for his horse first” to get closer to him and be able to communicate with him. How much can you consider this as “becoming closer”?

However, I can’t talk about this things with Uehara-kun himself, so all he sees is that Tendo-san and I are getting along.

“(Mou, this is why the protagonist of a love comedy that doesn’t understand the girl’s heart is…!)”

While I was groaning, Uehara-kun looked at me with an exasperated expression for some reason.

“…Is the hurdle of ‘friendship’ too big for you?”

“Uu…”

Leaving aside Tendo-san’s love, there might be some truth to his words. There might be, but…

“But the other person is Tendo-san, you know?”

“Whether it’s Tendo or a princess, in the end, it’s just another person.”

“But I’m like a small flea to Tendo-san, or rather, just a big slug…”

“Even if that might have been the case when you rejected her invitation to the Gamers Club, I don’t think it’s still like that. You know, Tendo doesn’t really hate you. If she hated you, would she invite you for a walk?”

“Since she met an acquaintance by chance on the street, she probably invited me out of kindness.”

For some reason, Uehara-kun said, “Are you serious…” and held his head. It seems like Uehara-kun was really always worried about my relationships with other people…

“…I’m really happy that Uehara-kun became my friend.”

“Why do you only say nice things to me!?”

He took a few steps back, his face turning red. Right… friendship between men should be more manly, yea. Manly… friendship between males… …

“Uehara-kun, do you want to enter a bath with me?”

“Are you serious!? You’re not being serious, right!?”

Uehara-kun pushed aside the chairs and desks in front of him as he scrambled to get away from me. Our classmates that were still in the classroom were all looking at us.

As I looked around the room and bowed apologetically to try to fix the situation—

“Oh, uh, Chiaki?”

—I called to the seaweed-haired girl, who was, surprisingly, standing at the entrance of the classroom.

Uehara-kun’s eyes widened in shock. For some reason, Chiaki’s cheeks dyed red, and after looking back and forth at me and Uehara-kun…

“Um… that, that! I-I have something to take care of, so… um, um, that… g-goodbye—!”

She suddenly bolted from the room.

I didn’t understand her reaction, so I tilted my head, confused. Uehara-kun, however, was opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish… Suddenly, not caring about his surroundings, he shouted out loud with all his might.

“I can’t let things end like thiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssss!”

While I was surprised, he immediately rushed back to his seat, picked up his bag, told me “The Gamers Hobby Club is over for today!”, and rushed after Chiaki desperately.

I was still confused about the situation. When I could no longer hear Uehara-kun’s footsteps in the hall, I finally realized what had just happened.

“Ah, damn…! This is definitely that…!”

Even if I may be oblivious about myself, I have some confidence in recognizing other people’s relationships.

With a gulp, I rested my chin on my clasped hands and mumbled with conviction.

“This is a flag that Uehara-kun and Chiaki’s love is deepening…!”

A girl who blushes and run away, and a boy who shouts “I can’t let things end like this!” and chases after her. I can’t mistake this for anything else, Isn’t this definitely an decisive scene before the ending? Or rather, isn’t this a bad ending?

“Ah… mou, what should I do…!”

I pulled at my hair for a short while.

Even though I felt uneasy… I reluctantly decided to contact Aguri-san.

Tendo Karen

“So, no matter how many times you ask, I won’t go out with you. …Huh? A trial period, is it? Honestly, outside of professional relationships, I find that way of thinking disgusting. ‘Trial’… don’t you think that’s rude to the other person?

“…No, I’ve already said this before. I don’t want to date anyone. …‘Then isn’t it fine’…? …Hah. I’m shocked.

“Do you even understand what I’m saying? Just to make it clear, I’ll tell you my final answer once again.

“I do not want to go out with you.

“…Hah? If you win the upcoming tournament? …Hah. I don’t understand someone like you.

“What do you think I am? Is it fun to look at people as an ‘extra prize’ at some tournament?

“It’s great that you’re good at boxing. I think it’s respectable.

“But that’s a completely different issue than my own emotions. Right?

“You want me to watch your game? You’ll win for my sake? No thank you. Yes, no thank you. No, I don’t dislike boxing. I am simply saying that as of now, I am not willing to sacrifice my personal time just to watch your match. After all, why would I spend my day off watching someone I barely know in a match?

“What? You want to… start by being friends?

“…No, I’m not sure about that. In the first place, what do you mean by “friends”? Since I didn’t want to go out with you, you’re trying to… get closer to me by any means possible, right?

“Unfortunately, I do not want to be that kind of friend.

“I’ll say this honestly… I am fully aware that what I am about to say may be rude, since this is our first time meeting, but I will still be direct.

“Frankly speaking, I don’t want to be friends with you.

“Our sense of values are different… or more importantly, I feel like we wouldn’t click. Obviously, a friend doesn’t have to have the same hobbies and preferences, but I think it’s very important that their human nature is compatible.

“In that sense, and although it may be unfortunate, after having heard your confession, I do not think that I like your personality.

“So, taking all my earlier points into consideration, I—wait, what?”

I suddenly realized that Andou-san, who was in the boxing club from a different school, had disappeared from my vision.

“You’re as unpleasant as the rumors said! Ah, no, please stop!”

While hurling insults, Andou san ran out of the cultural clubs building, the floorboards creaking with every step.

While sighing, I looked at his back until he disappeared from my sight. Suddenly, I felt someone pat my shoulders from behind.

“Good work, Tendo-san.”

“? Oh, Misumi-kun. You’re early.”

Turning around in surprise, I looked at Misumi Eiichi-kun, who was standing still with an awkward and strained smile plastered on his ever refreshing face.

Noticing his expression and the nuance in his words, I asked him a question, feeling slightly ashamed.

“…Did you see?”

“Uh-huh. I felt guilty, but… in the corridor leading to the clubroom, it’s pretty much unavoidable…”

“Yea, I guess. No, I should be the one sorry for blocking the hallway.

“Well, the only one waiting for the confession to end was me, so it’s no big deal…”

Misumi-kun looked like he wanted to say something more as he scratched his cheek. When I asked him, “What’s wrong?” and urged him to talk, he hesitated at first and then continued.

“Tendo-san, um… you turned him down pretty harshly…”

“Huh? Oh…”

I wryly smiled as I leaned against the wall of the hallway, trying to recover some of my depleted energy, and responded…

“I’m pretending to be a pro at love when I say this, but the worst thing you can do is to give an ambiguous answer. If you reject them gently, they’ll have a strange sense of hope and the situation will become even worse…”

That was the conclusion I got from my experience rejecting countless number of people.

Misumi-kun looked impressed as he crossed his arms and muttered.

“Haha, I see. You know, Tendo-san… even I would’ve cried a bit when you completely rejected him.”

“Uu.”

I was at a loss. …I timidly asked him another question.

“Misumi-kun. Was I… really that harsh?”

Misumi-kun saw me looking uneasy and blinked in surprise.

“Eh? Yea, it was harsh, but… isn’t that what you were trying to do?”

“I mean, that’s true, but… …I was wondering if I’ve been more aggressive than necessary when I refuse these daily confessions lately.”

I was trying to be sincere to those who were sincere, and harsh to the ones who were superficial, but… it’s a bit of a problem if the other party thinks it’s overly harsh.

Misumi-kun went “Hmm…” while scratching back of the head, feeling uncomfortable. While thinking back on the confession that just happened, he started talking.

“Honestly, when I first saw him, I didn’t think so highly of him, but…”

“R-right? He looked like someone without good sense.”

Yes, I wasn’t wrong. My response was definitely the right one—

“But even though your compatibility may be bad, I think he had good intentions. Since Tendo-san’s reply was basically a complete rejection, he got a strong impression that you were like a demon.”

“Ugu!?”

An arrow deeply stabbed my chest. …C-certainly, that might be true. I didn’t want to date Andou-san at all, and I didn’t really like his personality, but… but, he did come to confess with pure intentions.

On the other hand, even though I was being sincere, my words of rejection may have been overkill.

Misumi-kun lightly smiled and gave me some advice.

“Before, you might’ve gone in while thinking, ‘Reject his confession’, but this time, Tendo-san went in while basically thinking ‘no’, right?”

“Oh… when you say it like that, I guess that’s true.”

“Or rather, it seems like it’s become a habit. You would ‘walk in and reject his confession, then give him a reason’, or some pattern like that.”

“…Yea…”

Something came to mind. …Oh, right. Ever since rejecting confessions became something ordinary, my thoughts unconsciously became “reject them from the beginning and keep things stable.”

Misumi-kun still had a gentle smile on his face.

“I don’t think it’s very good to make too many habits. Even though you reject because of your original feelings, it seems like you’re going in reverse.”

“So you’re saying that I start with the fact that I’m rejecting other people, then tell them my feelings as if I’m giving an excuse afterwards?”

“Yup, that’s what I mean.”

“That’s certainly… an unfavorable thing to do as a person.”

Lately, I… the person known as Tendo Karen, have been aware of that issue and could understand what he was talking about.

“(It’s like the time when Amano-kun rejected my invitation to the Gamers Club… I can be really stubborn at times. I wonder if I’m just unable to adapt to the situation.)”

I’ve been arbitrarily deciding “because of this, this is probably true” for a lot of things.

Because Amano-kun likes games, he probably won’t reject my invitation to the Gamers Club.

Because he plays games for fun, he probably doesn’t care about winning or losing.

Because I’m going to reject their confession, it’s probably better for me to start off with a complete rejection.

I thought I looked perfect at a glance because of my resolute actions, but… rather, my flexibility was lost and I became unable to react to situations

“(…My shameful actions when Amano-kun refused my invitation to the club are a perfect example of this…)”

Even now, my cheeks turn hot when I think back on that incident. Everything that happened was because of my stubbornness.

When I became depressed after having reflected on my past actions, Misumi-kun followed up in a panic.

“No, um, I wasn’t saying that you should completely change how you live. Um, how should I put it… I was just saying that you should be aware of it…”

Misumi-kun stared off into space for a while, then looked like he hit upon a good idea.

“How about trying to increase your awareness?”

“Increase my awareness?”

“Yea. From my perspective, it seems like you always put on this facade of “the ideal Tendo Karen”, for better or for worse. Well, during clubtime, it somewhat disappears.”

“Ah…”

“Whenever you have a conversation, how about taking off that facade, then feel what the inner Tendo-san is thinking? I think doing things in that order would be better.”

“In other words… first, talk with my true feelings in mind and then try to apologize afterwards… right?”

“Yea. In Tendo-san’s case, I think that would be better.”

“…I see.”

I put my hand under my chin while I thought over what he said and agreed with his words. However, Misumi-kun was muttering something at the same time.

“”…If you don’t, you’ll never get closer to Amano-kun, no matter how much time passes…”

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“No, it was nothing. …If you couldn’t even hear that, then you definitely wouldn’t hear Amano-kun… Ah, it looks grim…”

Misumi-kun said something again, but I couldn’t hear what he said, so I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with me.

After having finished talking for now, we went to the clubroom and started playing our respective games. However…

“Start by being honest with my feelings. Be honest with my feelings. Be honest with my feelings. Don’t start with a rejection. Don’t start with a rejection. Don’t start with a rejection…”

I unconsciously repeated the same words over and over throughout all of club time.

Uehara Tasuku

“S-s-sorry, I seem to have jumped to a wrong conclusion…”

“Yea, completely wrong.”

I let out a sigh in exhaustion while standing next to the apologetic Hoshinomori.

We were walking side by side towards the downtown area, with the school building dyed by the rays of the setting sun behind us.

Hoshinomori usually took the bus in front of the building, but it looks like she has some shopping to do today. So, I walked with her and cleared up her BL suspicions, and thus we arrived at the current situation…

I stole a glance at the girl walking next to me and sighed in my mind.

“(…In the end, I’m walking with Hoshinomori again. How strange.)”

Usually, I would hang out with my girlfriend Aguri every day after school, but our relationship got strained a short while back.

That’s still how things are these days. As soon as I realized my love for Aguri, our time together rapidly decreased, and somehow I started spending more time Amano and Hoshinomori.

“(This can only be God’s harassment…)”

I’m not a devout person, but I can’t help but think that this foolish situation is someone’s foolish prank that is changing our fates.

“(And what does this god even want to do in the end? Even though the thread of destiny clearly links Amano and Hoshinomori, he’s still creating other opportunities between Amano and Tendo, as well as me and Hoshinomori.)”

Oh, and Amano and Aguri recently. …What a complicated mess. What kind of youth report is this?[3]

I noticed that my serious middle school self with his hair parted to the side within me was looking at this and laughing through his nose. No, my middle school self. I know. I wish that a ghost shark would quickly come and attack these party people in this love web at a beach resort.

However, I want you to look at this situation again, my old self. You’ll notice something right away.

All the characters in this love rectangle or whatever—none of them have had their first kiss yet.

If I said in the style of Kitano Takeshi’s movies, it would be “Everybody, virgin”. What is this, Miura Jun’s world view? Ah, yes, yes, did you know that the word “virgin” originally applied to girls as well, my old self?[4]

…Hey, don’t look at me with those eyes, my middle school self. This is far from being a youth report or a high school report; don’t say that this is on the level of a middle school student’s diary. That’d be rude. …to the middle schooler’s diary.

Anyway, it’s like we are currently mixed up in these really ridiculous, soap opera-like circumstances, and then producing relationships using love tips from something like “Sawayaka 3 kumi”.[5]

I put my hand to my forehead as I felt a headache coming. Hoshinomori noticed and looked at me in worry.

“U-uehara-san, are you alright? Are you sick or something…?”

“Hmm? Oh, no, it’s nothing. It’s just that… I was suddenly hit by the cruelty of this world.”

“Oh, so you were being attacked by something after all.”

Hoshinomori came to a conclusion by herself and nodded. I no longer have the strength to fix her misunderstandings.

The surroundings gradually became more busy as we headed towards downtown. Suddenly, I started talking about a topic that I’ve been thinking about for a while now.

“By the way, what do you think of Amano lately—”

“I wish he’d get on a Capcom helicopter already.”[6]

“Still want to kill him, huh.”

Their fate seems to be in a direct retreat. Definitely not going well in any way.

As soon as I brought up the topic of Amano, her mood immediately became worse as she continued talking.

“I still can’t understand how Keita has a super cute girlfriend like ‘Aguri-san’.”

“O-oh, I don’t understand that either…”

In a different meaning from Hoshinomori, though. I tried to keep talking, but she went “Right!?”, and took initiative of the conversation.

“This is really strange! Even now, when I remember Keita’s useless, self-confident expression while he talked fondly about his love, I’m so irritated, irritated!”

“…I-is that so? …H-hey, Hoshinomori. Are you sure you weren’t misunderstanding…”

“It was the first time seeing a boy look so damn proud while talking about his girlfriend!”

“…”

“? Huh? What’s wrong, Uehara-san? You don’t look very good.”

“No… it’s nothing. Yea. …Let’s change the topic.”

“Haa, well, it’s fine, but…”

Hoshinomori replied, looking curious. I let out a big sigh, prepared my heart, and asked her another question, but from a different angle this time.

“Then, what do you think about Tendo?”

She replied while playing with the curly tips of her hair.

“Tendo-san? Hmm… What, you ask? We’re classmates, but we never talk, so… well, if you were to compare us, I would be like a pile of trash…”

“Wow, even your self-awareness is the same.”

“Um, but, I do respect her. Since we both like games, if she became my friend one day, even though that thought is more or less… but, that would be really amazing! P-p-please forget what I just said!”

“…Go out with Amano already. Please. It’s not even on the level of just being ‘suitable’.”

“? Um, how’d you reach that conclusion from this conversation?”

Hoshinomori tilted her neck, looking completely lost. “Well, is that so? I don’t understand.” I don’t feel like explaining if she said that. No matter what I say right now, I know that it won’t affect how these two view each other.

After walking in silence for a bit, it was Hoshinomori who spoke up first this time, though looking uneasy.

“U-uehara-san, what do you think? About… Tendo-san.”

“Huh? My… impression of Tendo?”

I blinked in surprise from the unexpected question and repeated her question. Hoshinomori looked down in embarrassment, and nodded slightly. …Well, I don’t really see why she asked the question, but…

No, wait. Perhaps…

“(As a person who’s close to Amano, is she asking because she unconsciously views Tendo as a rival?)”

Hoshinomori seems to have misunderstood Aguri as Amano’s girlfriend for some reason (…haha, right?), but on the other hand, the radar of her mind must have perceived Tendo as the true rival.

If that’s the case… There’s only one response I can give.

I suddenly stopped, drawing Hoshinomori’s attention.

I fearlessly smiled, and—with all my power, I will fan the flames of rivalry within her heart!

“I think Tendo Karen is the best girl there is. No boy can avoid falling in love with her!”

“As I thought, Uehara-san thinks that of Tendo-san…!”

Hoshinomori’s face became pale after receiving some kind of shock.

“(Oh, isn’t this a pretty good response? It’s proof that she’s aware of Amano.)”

After looking at her state and confirming my thoughts, I unintentionally let out a laugh.

“Fufu…”

“Ugh! That delightful smile on Uehara-san’s face… it’s… it’s my first time seeing such an expression…”

Hoshinomori was unsteady on her feet, which was a reaction somewhat beyond my expectations. Hey, isn’t that great? As I thought, she’s actually very conscious of Amano.

Feeling satisfied, I patted her head to cheer her up from her depressed state.

“Cheer up, Hoshinomori. If you ask me, you’re a great girl. You won’t lose to Tendo at all.”

“Hah… but… Well, if Uehara-san is happy… wait, what!? Fuee!?”

Hoshinomori flushed a deep red from my words, and backed away in a panic. …Oh, shit. Was it bad to carelessly touch the hair of a shy girl? No, when I thought to cheer up Hoshinomori, it seemed like she had a complex about her hair, so I touched her hair to reassure her…

“(Aguri’s the type to cling onto me, so lately, my sense of distance with girls seems to have gotten a bit strange.)”

While I was reflecting on my actions, Hoshinomori’s eyes started spinning around in circles, and her body temperature shot up, as if steam would start shooting out of her head at any moment. At last, it seemed like she reached her limit. She squeezed her bag, lowered her head, and…

“E-e-excuse me for today!”

“Ah, hey, wait—”

She dashed away even before I could stop her. …Like Tendo, is it some kind of trend for beautiful girls to leave by dashing away? Something like Zenryoukuzaka.[7]

“…Hah.”

Feeling tired all of a sudden, I let out a sigh. I inadvertently turned around, and for the first time, I noticed that we were walking on the sidewalk right in front of a family restaurant.

“(Shit, was I seen by a customer?)”

No, far from just being seen, the customers sitting on the side facing the road would’ve probably heard the conversation. Even though I felt embarrassed from that possibility, I didn’t have to worry about the part of the restaurant I glanced at. The table I saw had a glass and a cup of coffee, but there was no one sitting there. Did they already go home, or did they go to the drink bar…? Either way, it seems like our exchange wasn’t seen.

I let out a sigh of relief. While thinking about what I should from now on, I quickly left the restaurant.

Amano Keita

“… …D-did he leave? Hurry up, Amano-chi, look!”

“Wait, don’t rush me, Aguri-san! … …Oh, it looks like he left.”

I peaked out from under the seats to check that Uehara-kun was leaving, and put my hand over my chest in relief.

]Aguri-san also peeked out from under the table to look outside.

“…”

We absentmindedly kneeled on the floor of the family restaurant for a short while. …And then.

“…D-dear customers?”

“Oh.”

When we heard the waitress’ cramped voice, we finally noticed how suspicious we looked. After sitting back on the seats in a panic, we looked at her with awkward smiles, as if to say, “There’s nothing to see here.”

“…P-please take your time—”

She was clearly suspicious of us. Trying to avoid getting involved with us as much as possible, the waitress quickly walked away from our table.

We kept smiling as we watched her leave… and when she disappeared into the kitchen, we both let out our breaths.

“Hah.”

We both collapsed onto the table. When my gaze incidentally rested on the coffee cup, I said, “Oh”.

“Was it fine… for our cups to be on the table?”

I talked while I was still collapsed on the table. Aguri-san replied, also in a similar position.

“Isn’t it fine as long as he didn’t see us?”

“Ah, I guess…”

We talked back and forth while looking at the ceiling, feeling out of it.

The reason being…

“(Uehara-kun is definitely cheatiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnngggggg!)”

After all, enough proof of cheating just appeared right in front of our eyes.

“(Saying that Tendo is the best girl, then smoothly patting the head of another girl… Uehara-kun, you’re impossible…! If this were the KISUMAI BUSAIKU rankings, you have the potential to get first place every time!)”[8]

I can’t even say anything anymore. I propped my head using my arm.

On the other hand, Aguri-san was still looking up at the ceiling, muttering something.

“Yuute imiya oukimu kouho riiyu ujitori yamaa kirape pepepepe pepepe pepepe pepepepe pepepe pepepe pepepepe pepe…”[9]

“A spell of restoration!? Or rather, what generation are you from, Aguri-san!?”

“? What are you saying? Aguri was just mumbling the words that came from the bottom of my heart in this nothingness…”

“What are the chances of that!?”

A heaven-sent child of the gaming industry was sitting in front of me, naturally spewing out spells of restoration as a means of recovery from a shocked state. It’s a miracle. But the sad part is that this person has absolutely no interest in games. It’s a useless miracle.

As if it was the effect of the spell, Aguri-san finally returned to her normal state and started sipping her now lukewarm oolong tea.

“Haa… the scene we just came across is rather refreshing…”

“Yea, definitely. Rather than worrying about trusting or doubting others, it probably feels more relaxing.”

“Hey, can you not talk like you understand, you hikki otaku bocchi boy?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

I sat up in my seat. Lately, there’s one that that I’ve learned about human relationships. That is, no matter how much time and effort you put in, there are some relationships where it is impossible to get close.

Having been influenced by RPGs, I mistakenly thought that spending long amounts of time together would help a group of people trust each other and become friends.

“Amano-chi, more juice.”

“Yes, right away. …Um, which one?”

“…”

“Oh, right. This is a chance for me to show my sense by picking myself. Excuse me.”

—I feel like this power relationship will stay this way for my whole life. We’ll never become lovers, close friends, or anything of the sort. This is the limit to how close we can get.

I went to the drink bar, got a mixed fruit juice drink, and put it down in front of Aguri-san after returning to our table.

“Mixed juice, huh. …And your reasoning?”

“I thought you’d like something bittersweet.”

“12 points.”

“So low!?”

“Feelings don’t always match with what someone wants to drink; that’s what a maiden’s heart is—”

While talking, Aguri-san started to drink her mixed juice through the straw. As I sat down, I asked her a question.

“Then what was the correct answer?”

“A short caramel macchiato from Starb*cks.”

“That’s an unreasonable demand!”

“Your inability to think of such things is related to why you’re bad at games, Amano-chi.”

“Don’t talk like you know about games, you riajuu girl!”

I also get mad if you say something like that! However, Aguri-san completely ignored my words and looked out the window as she kept sucking on her straw.

I let out a sigh, then realized that I didn’t get my own drink. Reluctantly, I drank my coffee that had become cold. The bitter taste was strong, but it strangely matched how I was feeling right now.

Both of us looked out the window in silence for a while… then, Aguri-san started to talk as if she was talking to herself.

“Even then, Aguri loves Tasuku.”

“…”

I didn’t say anything and sipped my coffee again. …It’s really bitter.

“…What should I do…”

“What should I do, huh.”

I bitterly smiled and repeated Aguri-san’s words. …As a loner, I didn’t think that love troubles were so worrisome.

Especially the fact that the simplest solution of “Throwing away your feelings” is the worst idea.

It would be better if Uehara-kun was a hopeless boy…

I let out a sigh and started to talk.

“I’m not trying to stick up for a friend, but… I don’t think that Uehara-kun doesn’t mean anything bad, you know? He wouldn’t ever try to hurt Aguri-san.”

“That goes without saying, Amano-chi.”

Aguri-san laughed and talked proudly.

“Tasuku is really good at taking care of people. That’s why Aguri came to like him… He also attracts other rivals like Amano-chi.”

“I see you counted me as one of Uehara-kun’s heroines without hesitation.”

“Eh, am I wrong, then?.”

“… … I’m sorry, it terrifies me that I couldn’t deny it immediately.”

Uehara-kun might be stolen away! If Uehara-kun makes another gaming friend, I’m certain that I would say “Kii—! Who is it!?”. I now recognize that I have some of those feelings against Chiaki. That seaweed girl is a beast. She’s going to steal my position as his “well-informed game buddy”.

“Amano-chi, Amano-chi, don’t bite your nails with such a terrifying expression.”

“Ha! Sorry, Aguri-san. What were we talking about? Were we talking about my top 1000 picks for game music?”

“We weren’t talking about that, I have no interest in it, and never bring it up again for all of eternity.”

“I thought we were talking about where to rank Chrono Cross…”

“We weren’t.”

“Personally, I want to include all the songs from Final F*ntasy 13…”

“Amano-chi, Amano-chi, can I say something?”

“What is it, Aguri-san. I won’t stop talking about games so easily! The only thing that can dampen my passion for games is something appropriately—”

“Gross.”

I fell silent as my heart shattered from those five letters. Even an apology doesn’t come out. I stayed silent, my hands shaking. I felt like crying.

Suddenly, a group of 6 middle schoolers sat down at the table nearby, their voices audible from where we were sitting. There were three boys and three girls. A boy, whose uniform didn’t really suit him, stood up and told a joke. The girls laughed at his joke, saying “Stop that, you~”.

“…”

“Amano-chi, Amano-chi, don’t make such a gloomy expression.”

“Eh, was I?”

“Yea, yea. Your expression was full of NEET-like hatred and envy.”

“NEET-like is too much, but… well, I certainly did have some negative emotions there. Sorry. I was just wishing that those students who came to a family restaurant with girls would explode.”

“Amano-chi, your true feelings are leaking out. But I mean, you are at a family restaurant with a cute girl right now.”

“Eh… … ….”

“Eh, why are you making such an annoyed look? I’m the one that’s annoyed.”

Aguri-san glared at me in dissatisfaction. I thought for a bit and replied.

“No, sorry. Somehow, the ‘family restaurant riajuu’ is so different than what I had imagined.”

“What is this new term, ‘family restaurant riajuu’?”

“Just as it sounds like. I use it mainly for middle to high school students who frolic around in family restaurants.”

“Wait. Amano-chi, have you never gone to a family restaurant with a friend other than Aguri…”

“…”

“I’m somewhat sorry.”

She somewhat apologized. I let out a sigh and continued talking.

“Well, I am somewhat jealous that these boys and girls are laughing and having fun, but more importantly, I always think, ‘do they even have enough spare cash to spend at family restaurants?’ or ‘just go eat at home’ and feel hatred for these students who come to eat at family restaurants.”

“Aren’t you being excessively nitpicky!?”

“I’ve never thought that my thoughts were ‘excessively nitpicky’ in my whole life.”

“No, but you’re talking with a cute girl at a family restaurant right now.”

“…”

“Like I said, why are you making such an annoyed expression? I’m the one that’s annoyed!”

Aguri-san then glanced at the group of middle school students and sighed as she went “Well…”

“Aguri understand what Amano-chi is saying, though. Actually, Aguri was also kind of like Amano-chi back in middle school.”

“Right!’

“But not all students who go to family restaurants are like what Amano-chi thinks. For example, look at that girl at the end of that seat.”

I reluctantly turned towards the middle school students that Aguri-san was pointing at. As I glanced over in that direction, I saw a plain girl who was awkwardly smiling.

“For example, that girl is similar to Amano-chi, if anything. But unlike Amano-chi, she is able to go along with the flow, and she can be one of the ‘family restaurant riajuu’ that you talk of. The amount of effort she put in is amazing. Then, Amano-chi, do you think someone like her should also go explode?”

“That’s…”

Aguri-san smiled as I struggled to reply.

“The Amano-chi right now and that girl are similar. There are a lot of things in the world you can’t understand just by glancing at the situation.”

“Aguri-san…”

I teared up, feeling moved from her unexpected adult-like behavior.

However…

“Wow~! Look, look, it’s a belly button… it’s so risque!”

“Stop, you’re the worst, hahaha.”

“I really think they should go explode!”

I hit the table when I saw the middle school students finally take off their clothes in high spirits!

“Amano-chi, Amano-chi, you’re too loud!”

“Look, Aguri-san! The ‘plain girl’ you were talking about is completely the opposite! Look! She’s poking his belly button without any restraint! Kii—!”

“Ok, ok Amano-chi! Aguri understands, so stop making matters worse!”

“I’m not making matters worse! I’m right! Absolutely right!”

“That’s what I mean by making things worse!”

Aguri-san tried to calm me down as I flared up in anger.

And then, while roughly breathing, I was about to sit down, having somewhat calmed down…

“Ahaha.”

Aguri-san let out a laugh, looking like she was enjoying herself.

She laughed by herself for a bit while I still felt envious of those middle school students.

While wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, she continued to talk.

“Thanks, Amano-chi.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

Feeling slightly startled, I averted my gaze. However, Aguri-san continued to talk as if she saw through everything.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yea.”

We both looked out the window as we conversed.

I wonder what she realized. Looking refreshed, Aguri-san suddenly said “Ok then!” in a loud voice.

“Leaving aside Aguri and Tasuku, how about her, Amano-chi?”

“Her?”

“You’ve resolved yourself, right? About Tendo-san.”

“…”

I started to sweat and averted my eyes without answering the question. Aguri-san let out a sigh on purpose.

“…Amano-chi, don’t you have any motivation? Shouldn’t you be taking action?”

“Even if you say that…”

Feeling down, I glanced at Aguri-san. For some reason, she looked seriously angry. …I think that this part of her is really similar to Uehara-kun. Suddenly, I wondered if this was how it would feel to be helped for a marriage interview by an old, married couple—

“Amano-chi, are you thinking of something rude right now?”

“Of course not. I was just thinking about how Aguri-san is nice for helping out.”

“I see. Then, Amano-chi, you should go make a move on Tendo-san soon.”

“I take back my words. You’re a demon.”

I then wondered if this was how it would feel to be pestered by an annoying relative that was trying to persuade me to do a marriage interview.

Aguri-san shrugged her shoulders and continued.

“Amano-chi. Aguri was originally a really plain girl, but I changed myself with great effort. In the end, I was able to go on the attack against Tasuku and reached this point, you know?”

“So you’re at this point after your boyfriend practically cheated on you, I see—”

She pinched my cheeks with all her strength. It wasn’t like one of those gentle, love comedy-like pinches on the cheek; it was strong enough to have left a mark. Scary. Girls are scary.

As I rubbed my cheek with tears in my eyes, Aguri-san glared at me.

“In other words, just because you put in the effort to improve yourself doesn’t mean anything will change!”

“No, but you can raise flags with heroines just by raising your parameters in Tokimeki Memorial…”

“Amano-chi. Just think about it. A girl who gets closer to a boy as soon as his looks or his parameters improve… Amano-chi, what would you think of her?”

“At the very least, I wouldn’t want to be her friend.”

“Then, from your point of view, is Tendo-san someone like that?”

“Definitely not!”

I strongly hit the table. Aguri-san continued, looking somewhat taken aback.

“Then you understand, don’t you? Regardless of how much you improve yourself, if you don’t talk to Tendo-san, nothing will come of your efforts in the end.”

“I get what you’re saying, but…”

If I don’t talk to Tendo-san, I probably won’t be able to get closer to her.

Even then, I… feel like I’ve gotten better at talking to other people lately (at least, enough to stop my rehab), but does that mean I can talk to the most popular girl in Otobuki High School?

In other words, isn’t it the same thing as trying to challenge the last boss like a hero after feeling satisfied by becoming level 3 from defeating slimes?

As I was about to say my doubts out loud, Aguri-san crossed her arms and sighed.

“Amano-chi, what level do you feel like you should be?”

“Huh? That’s… well… about level 60?”

“Then, when do you think you’ll reach that stage at the rate you’re progressing at?”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything. Certainly, If I waited until then, my high school life would have ended.

With a somewhat sympathetic gaze, Aguri-san continued to speak.

“You know, Amano-chi, life isn’t a game.”

“I agree. Even then, I think that games are an amazing, fun representation of life—”

“You’re too loud, shut up.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Amano-chi. Are relationships between two people defined by things like what ‘level’ they are? After earning ‘good points’ with someone, it doesn’t mean that they automatically become your friend starting from that point in time.”

I was startled. Aguri-san is sharp in these areas. Even though Uehara-kun jokes around that she’s a “stupid girl”, she does her best to enjoy the real world, unlike me… She really understands the truly important parts.

“Amano-chi. In this world, 1 plus 1 doesn’t equal 2.”

“Yes.”

I replied seriously to Aguri-san, who also spoke with an earnest gaze.

After a pause, Relationship Master Aguri-san made a declaration as I waited for her next words.

“1 plus 1 is… love!”

In that moment, the serious atmosphere of our conversation instantly vanished.

“…Hah… love?”

“It’s love!”

…I guess what Uehara-kun said is true. I mean… I don’t know what she meant by those words, but it felt quite lacking. She’s kind of slow.

Also, her words have some kind strange indecency to them. 1 plus 1 is love. …It sounds like one of those sayings that you keep saying because they sound wise, but are actually pretty stupid when you think about it.

I made a vague smile so as not to dampen her spirits since she looked really proud.

Aguri-san nodded and continued by herself.

“Unlike games, lovers don’t just pop out of nowhere.”

“I’m taking you at your word, Aguri-san, but that doesn’t happen in games either…”

“Shut up! That’s not the point here! Amano-chi, you have to do something!”

“No, in the first place, I just want to be friends with Tendo-san… no, I just want to be recognized by her…”

“Same thing. No matter what your goal is, you have to talk to her or else nothing’s going to happen.”

“…Yes, but…”

I hung my head, feeling restless. Actually, I’m completely aware of my own cowardice and my indecisiveness. I know, but… it’s still scary for me to try, knowing that I’ll fail. It’s like saying, “Alright, let’s climb Mount Everest!” after buying a light down jacket from Un*qlo. That’s what I’m trying to do just because I got the chance to talk to her a bit. There’s so much risk involved.

Nonetheless, our conversation was going in circles. Aguri-san didn’t look like she was going to give in anytime soon.

As a last resort, I changed the topic.

“Um, Aguri-san, how did you confess to Uehara-kun?”

“Eh? You’re asking that? You want to hear about that? Wow. Um…”

“(Oh, dear.)”

When I saw Aguri-san bashfully playing with the tips of her hair and clearly about to launch into a long speech and talk fondly about her confession, I felt weary.

After about 30 minutes of introduction, she finally reached the confession scene.

I returned to reality and paid attention to her story, having ended my game of ‘mental tetris’.

“And then, Aguri mustered up all of her courage, called out Tasuku, and said this!”

Aguri-san said with a boastful expression.

“‘Uehara-kun, please go out with me.’”

“…Heh?”

I accidentally let out a tiny voice. Aguri-san interpreted that as “I didn’t hear you” and said it again.

“I said, ‘Uehara-kun, please go out with me’, Amano-chi.”

“…That’s… really?”

After talking on and on about Uehara-kun, her simple confession was anticlimactic. I was dumbfounded.

However, Aguri-san just nodded to my question and continued talking.

“Well, I heard that Tasuku liked less serious girls. But, even if that wasn’t the case I probably would’ve said the same thing.”

“Isn’ that way too simple for such an important confession—”

“It’s the opposite, Amano-chi.”

“Huh?”

Aguri-san smiled maturely unlike her age.

“The most important things are the most simple, and so they come out naturally.”

“…”

I didn’t say anything. Aguri-san continued in an unusually kind tone.

“That’s why, Amano-chi, if you really want to become friends with Tendo-san, or to become closer… your honest feelings should naturally come out without forcing it.”

“…Is… is that so?”

I’ve always made Tendo-san angry. But perhaps, I might not be so hopeless… unlike Aguri-san, I might have been trying too hard to get of rid of all good will towards me.

“Aguri-san, I…”

I gripped my empty cup with both hands and drank the remaining bitter liquid that was left in the bottom of the cup.

With determination, I made a declaration to Aguri-san, my friend that I respect.

“Tomorrow, I’ll challenge Tendo-san, even if I fail!”

Tendo Karen

On my way back home from club, I thought over the advice that Misumi-kun gave me.

“Don’t start with a rejection, be honest with my feelings first…”

Usually, it wouldn’t be such a difficult thing, but ever since I was young, I’ve learned to act in a manner like my outward appearance, rather than acting on my true feelings.

“(However, after having resolved myself, I, Tendo Karen, will completely follow through with my decision.)”

Even if other girls might go back on their word, Tendo Karen will never do the same.

“Don’t start with a rejection. Reply with my honest feelings…”

As I walked down the street while muttering the same lines over and over again, I lightly bumped shoulders with another girl walking in the opposite direction who was clearly not paying attention to her surroundings.

The somewhat flashy student noticed just before she bumped into me and tried to avoid me, but to no avail. She lightly apologized.

“Oh, sorry.”

“Oh, no, it was my fault…”

After saying that much, I suddenly realized something, and tried again.

“Yes, it was a bother. Please try not to take up the whole sidewalk as you walk.”

“Huh!? Oh, o-okay…”

She stopped from my unexpectedly harsh words. It looked like things would take a turn for the worse.

“I’m very sorry for my rude words. Well then, goodbye.”

I lowered my head in apology, smiled, turned around, and gallantly walked away.

After walking for a short while… I fist-pumped, feeling like I had accomplished something.

“(Perfect!)”

This is definitely what Misumi-kun was trying to say. I spoke my true feelings, then covered it up. Honestly, this feels unexpectedly nice.

“(I’m in great condition. I didn’t start off with saying ‘no’ immediately, and instead started by speaking my true feelings and following up afterwards. This is it. This is it!)”

While letting out my breath, I pushed my bangs to the side and smiled in satisfaction. As I thought, I have a strong will. I think that’s one of my strong points. It’s probably because I’m an actor’s daughter. After all, I would always set my mind on achieving something, and I would always become that idealized image I had in mind.

It’s the same thing this time. I decided to “start with my true feelings”, and on the very same day, I achieved my goal. My ability is amazing, even to me.

Feeling confident, I stopped my self-reform, and looked in front of me as I kept walking. Before I noticed, I had reached the downtown area.

Since I’m here anyway, shall I visit the game shop? As I pondered over whether or not I should go…

“(That’s…)”

I saw a girl with disheveled hair running in my direction. Although I was startled for a moment, as she gradually got closer, I noticed that the student was one of my classmates. Right before she was about to run past me, I called out to the panicked girl.

“Hoshinomori-san?”

“…!?”

She pulled a short distance past me, suddenly stopped, and turned around to look at me.

“Te… Tendo-san?”

She was tightly squeezing her bag to her chest as she panted from running.

Honestly, I didn’t have much in common with her, so after some hesitation about what to say, I decided to start with a harmless greeting—

“(Hah!? That’s bad, Tendo Karen! Start with my honest feelings! Yea!)”

Noticing my close call, I called out to the panting girl with a smile.

“For a moment, I thought that seaweed could fly.”

“A direct hit!?”

“Oh, but not in a bad way, of course.”

“And then a really messy follow up! What is this!? What the hell is this!?”

Hoshinomori started tearing up all of a sudden. …How strange. Did I do anything wrong…

I cleared my throat and tried to fix the situation with a smile.

“Sorry, I called out to you just because I recognized your face.”

“Huh? Ah, y-yes, um, this, is an honor, for you to talk to someone like me…”

For some reason, Hoshinomori-san played with the tips of her hair as if she was nervous.

While keeping Misumi-kun’s advice in mind, I continued the conversation.

“But I honestly don’t really know anything about Hoshinomori-san, so I don’t know what to talk about.”

“That’s what you say!? You talked to me to say that!? I-I guess it’s true, but…”

“Of course, I don’t mean anything bad by that.”

“Um, you know, that follow-up doesn’t work every time!”

I see, is that so? That’s not good. I’ve pretty much removed how to speak honestly from my consciousness, so my follow up is pretty sloppy. Focus, Tendo Karen.

…Alright.

“Hoshinomori-san, you’re beautiful, have great style, and have such fair skin—how wonderful!”

“Such a sudden backhanded compliment! I-Is this some new way of bullying me!?”

Strange. Hoshinomori-san is trembling. I thought my praise was just perfect, but… I wonder what the reason Hoshinomori-san’s unexpected reaction… there’s one thing that comes to mind.

“Ufufu. Hoshinomori-san, you’ve changed.”

“Eeeeeeeeehhhhhhhh!?”

She had a somewhat upset expression. Yup, Hoshinomori-san definitely changed. However, we aren’t communicating properly right now.

There’s also no point in continuing this useless conversation. I thought about what topic she would want to hear about the most, and talked about that.

“How is it with Amano-kun lately?”

“Huh?”

Hoshinomori-san tilted her neck in confusion. I continued to talk with a friendly grin.

“I’m talking about your relationship with Amano-kun. Did you make any progress?”

“Ha-hah. … Um… I, I don’t know what Tendo-san is trying to ask…”

“You’re such a vague person! I don’t know either!”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhh!?”

“I just wanted to ask one thing.That is, how are things with Amano-kun?”

“H-how, you say… well, the same as ever, but…”

She replied hesitantly.

“…The same, is it…”

I thought back on the time I visited the Gamers Hobby Club. Certainly, Amano-kun and Hoshinomori-san were close enough to call each other by their first names, but I only saw them have a lover’s quarrel…

“…Lucky.”

“What!? Tendo-san!? Are you feeling envious for some reason!?”

When I muttered my true thoughts, Hoshinomori-san shot another unexpected tsukkomi once again. …Her tsukkomis and reactions are more severe than her usual, quiet self. She’s similar to Amano-kun in that aspect. Similar… to Amano-kun… Similar…

“…Unfair…”

“Like I said, what is it!? Tendo-san!? Why are you suddenly pouting!?”

Hoshinomori-san kept fidgeting with her fingers, looking more and more frantic as she kept asking questions.

…This is bad. I feel like I’ve been too honest about my feelings.

I took a few quick deep breaths in succession, and put on the Tendo Karen facade once again.

“Fufu, it’ll be fun seeing how long this Gamers Hobby Club will last!”

“So suddenly!? Why the sudden ojou-sama-like rival character!? Tendo-san!?”

“Sorry, I made a mistake. Ahem. …Oh, how nice to see you, Hoshinomori-san.”

“Such a quick change!? W-well, this is certainly how Tendo-san always acts, but…”

Somehow, it seems that my appearance was successful. I started the conversation once again.

“Then, Hoshinomori-san. Has the Gamers Hobby Club ended for today?”

“Eh? Ah, um, talking about that, um, in the first place, today’s meeting was a complete failure…”

“? What do you mean?”

Right then, a middle-aged office worker walked past us as he said, “Excuse me.” I noticed that we were talking right in the middle of the sidewalk. After I said “Sorry” to the man, we started to talk as we walked.

She apparently also had some business in the downtown area. But then why was she running away in the opposite direction earlier? When I asked, her cheeks turned red as she explained the general outline of what had happened.

After she finished telling her story, I crossed my arms and let out a big sigh.

“Good grief, even Uehara-kun is hopeless.”

I always thought he was an easy person, but I didn’t think he went for anyone and anything.

However, as I was evaluating his character, Hoshinomori-san quickly followed up in a panic.

“Uehara-kun is a very nice person! There’s nothing hopeless about him!”

“Hmm, is that so? However, I do hear that he talks to a lot of girls…”

“? Really? But, um, it’s not like he actually has a girlfriend, so I don’t think there are any problems…”

I hesitated a little from Hoshinomori-san’s words.

“That’s… my memory is vague so I may not be correct, but I heard that he did have a girlfriend…”

“Eh, i-i-is that so?”

“Yea. I heard that it was that Aguri-san…”

“Huh?”

Hoshinomori-san’s eyes spun from my words. She gulped.

In the next moment—she held her stomach as she laughed.

“Ahahahaha, Tendo-san, that’s definitely wrong! Aguri-san is Keita’s girlfriend! She has nothing to do with Uehara-san!”

“But I heard from other people that…”

“Ah, I’m definitely sure that Aguri-san is Keita’s girlfriend! I mean, we’ve talked about his girlfriend together too, even though it’s a painful experience because I’m a loner! Really!”

Considering that it was a guess, Hoshinomori-san spoke with great conviction. I was overawed by her certainty.

“(T-that’s possible. They must have had the opportunity to talk about each other’s partners…)”

However, to be frank, I really can’t see Amano-kun and Aguri-san dating. She fits much better with Uehara-kun. However…

“(P-perhaps I just want to avert my eyes from the truth that Amano-kun is dating someone…!)”

Hoshinomori-san, in a strangely good mood, continued to talk as I held my head in my hands.

“Ehehehe, I was surprised that you said that Uehara-san was dating someone. Tendo-san, having those kind of misunderstandings is an unexpected side of you.”

“U-uu!?”

Ah, maybe. After all, I face away from the truth and try to insert my own misunderstandings into the story. On the other hand, Hoshinomori-san accepts reality and acts with a clear mind and open heart—I should be like that!

As my thoughts kept swirling around in my head, Hoshinomori-san changed the subject, feeling that the current discussion had come to a conclusion.

“By the way… Tendo-san, are you on bad terms with Keita?”

“…Eh?”

The unexpected question made me look up and put a pause on my troubled thoughts about Amano-kun’s girlfriend.

Hoshinomori-san continued, tilting her neck in curiousity.

“Um, that is, I don’t really know about the relationship between you two. Um, I know that you invited Keita to the Gamers Club, and that he refused, but nothing else…”

“Yea, that sounds about right, There’s nothing wrong there.”

“Fumu fumu. That means that Keita and Tendo-san have slightly delicate relationship… or, speaking frankly, it’s not a very good relationship… right?”

“That’s…”

While I was at a loss for words of explanation, Hoshinomori-san kept talking.

“However, Tendo-san, you came to one of the Gamers Hobby Club meetings a few days ago, no? Even though Keita was there. So I thought that maybe there was no way to turn down the offer, but… after all, the two of you converse pretty awkwardly. Especially Keita—he’s very brash and rude towards me, but when he talks to you, he’s strangely obedient.”

“T-that’s because your relationship is somewhat special…”

“Even so. I always thought that the relationship between Keita and Tendo-san was always strange. Then then, how is it actually? Are you on bad terms? D-do you consider Keita a horrible person just like I do? *tremble*”

“Eh, ah, no, that’s…”

I involuntarily hesitated. Now that she mentioned it… my relationship with Amano-kun is strange.

Just like she said, Amano-kun is probably aware of me. Even when he rejected my invitation to the club, he probably did so with his tail in between his legs.

Then, what about me?”

“(Regarding the matter of the Gamers Club… it’s too bad, but even now, I’m not really mad.)”

Honestly, right after he rejected my invitation, I immediately flared up in an emotion similar to anger and thought “Why!”, but contrary to my own expectations, that feeling vanished right away.

…But then, why, and when, did it vanish?

“(…Oh right. Certainly, when I saw him arguing with Uehara-kun… he…)”

I know… that he seriously considered the Gamers Club… and me. And…

At that point, I noticed that my cheeks felt unusually hot. Hoshinomori-san looked at my face in worry.

“W-w-what’s wrong, Tendo-san!? Your face is red! Are you okay!?”

Hoshinomori-san was sincerely worried about me. She’s so similar to Amano-kun—a nice, pure person. As I thought, she’s much more suitable for him than Aguri-san.

“Ugu!?”

“T-tendo-san!?”

“T-there’s a weird stinging feeling in my chest…!”

“Isn’t that really serious!? S-should I call an ambulance…!?”

“Wait, Hoshinomori-san!”

I stopped her in a panic as she reached for her smartphone.

She was looking at me with a worried face. I smiled at her to reassure her.

“Honestly, heating up, fast heartbeat, and pain are common symptoms for me. That’s why it’s fine!”

“Isn’t that excessively bad!? Rather, why haven’t you gone to the hospital yet!?”

“I don’t know. It’s just that my mind screams, ‘It’s not a hospital-related issue!’”

“Are you a spoiled child!? You’re not a child, so please go to the hospital!”

“… …And if I said no?”

“What kind of argument is that!? I-it’s also bad to say that with such a serious face! N-no matter what you say, e-even if you hate me, I’m going to call an ambulance!”

Like a mother who scolds a bad child—strict, yet gentle… with teary eyes, Hoshinomori-san reached for her phone once again.

In this clumsy yet kind girl, I see traces of Amano-kun… as my heart strangely calmed down, and as my red cheeks cooled down, I gave her a sincere, honest smile.

“I’m already fine.”

“… …C-certainly, you look like you’re already fine, but… but…”

Even now, Hoshinomori-san didn’t put away her smartphone. I smiled at her again, and walked towards downtown again. Hoshinomori-san hurriedly followed after me and walked next to me.

“…Y-you’re really fine… right?”

“Yes, definitely. Thanks, Hoshinomori-san.”

“N-no, I didn’t do much… …or, um, rather, I’m sorry…”

“? Why are you apologizing?”

“Um… um, I made a commotion for no reason… n-now that I think back on what I did, it was an overreaction… oh… how embarrassing…”

This time, it was Hoshinomori-san who turned red. Burying her face in her hands, she groaned in embarrassment.

I watched her feeling somewhat peaceful for a while… then, looking up at the evening sky, I brought up the previous topic once again.

“…The feeling I have towards Hoshinomori-san is the same as I feel towards Amano-kun.”

“Heh? Your feelings towards me… is the same as your feelings for Keita?”

Hoshinomori-san stopped covering up her face and tilted her neck. I smiled and said, “Yea”, and after thinking for a tiny bit, she answered with a difficult expression.

“…The same as a low-life being that should go disappear from this world?”

“Your evaluation of Amano-kun is so low that it scares me.”

“Ehehe, how embarrassing.”

“Yea, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

We continued to banter back and forth. Afterwards, I smiled at her again and honestly told her my feelings without being embarrassed.

“I want to be friends with you… and get to know you better.”

“…”

Hoshinomori-san stopped in an instant and looked at me in a daze. I stopped walking as well and looked at her for several seconds. She became flustered so suddenly.

“W-with someone like me!? …I-I-I am honored!”

“‘I am honored’, huh?”

I feel like I heard the same words from Amano-kun recently. There’s a limit to how similar you two can be, you know.

“And for Keita to be friends with Tendo-san… it’s too good for him, so he deserves to die!”

“How low is Amano-kun’s existence to you…”

Somehow, I feel a bit sad. To think that there are people this similar, yet so antagonistic towards each other in this world. It’s a bit of a culture shock.

As I was thinking to myself, Hoshinomori-san cleared her throat and averted her eyes away from me, as if to hide her embarrassment.

“I-i-if you’re ok with me, then please take care—”

“Yes, gladly!”

Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted us from somewhere nearby. After looking around again, I noticed that we were right in front of a bar. A cheerful waiter kept repeating the same lines over and over again, as if he was taking multiple orders one after another.

“Yes, gladly!” “Yes, gladly!” “Yes, gladly!”

“…”

And before I noticed… Hoshinomori-san was trembling, looking down at the ground with teary eyes.

“(Ahh, right as I was about to accept her request, that loud waiter just ruined the mood! I can’t say it now! Under these circumstances, I can no longer use the words, ‘Gladly!’ I don’t want to use it! I don’t want to be like the waiter!)”

However, it looked like Hoshinomori-san didn’t have a backup plan. Or rather, the waiter was still saying “Yes, gladly!” over and over again, and so she couldn’t think of any other word. It was the same for me as well.

In the end, after she finally stopped shaking… when I thought that she would look at me with tears in her eyes, she instead turned around and ran away as fast as possible while shouting out loud.

“I’m sorry for some reason——————-!”

“I am too for some reason————-!”

I replied in confusion to the girl running away.

I watched her leave until I could no longer see her… and then I feebly smiled

“Why did our meeting go that way… I probably won’t be able to talk to Amano-kun either…”

I was probably much more awkward than I thought I was.

For some reason, I couldn’t sit still when I that thought came to my mind.

“…Start with my honest feelings. Don’t start by rejecting them. And then, be genuine like Hoshinomori-san…”

Eventually, I started to make my way back home, muttering the same words to myself as I walked alone.

Amano Keita

After Aguri-san and I said goodbye to each other, I returned home, had a quick meal with my family, and took a short bath. I hurriedly went to my room, deciding to go to bed early for today.

9 o’clock, night time. I turned off the lights, covered myself with my blankets—then plugged in my game console. The title of the gal game in the console lit up the monitor. I, the otaku boy, smiled.

…N-no, wait. I hesitated when I thought about how helpless I was.

While it is true that I am playing this gal game in my pajamas, hiding from my family, that was my plan from the start. After all…

“(Before I ask Tendo-san to be my friend tomorrow… I want to clear this route at least!)”

With a determined look, I looked at the heroine Frau Heavenly, who was right next to the title of the game, “Golden Tricks”.

Yes, today… even if it takes me all night, I have decided to make sure that I will confess successfully without looking at a guide.

“(Then… I feel like I will definitely have the self-confidence tomorrow. I’ll have the courage.)”

It’s almost like a prayer to a god. But even then, will she even want to become my friend if even the Tendo-san-like heroine is so hard to capture?

“(If Uehara-kun was here, he would say that those two things are completely different matters… I understand it in my mind, but… but, I can’t give up. I will capture Frau.)”

I wonder if there are any other boys who play love sim games as seriously as I do.

Skillfully handling my controller, I used my skips to start on capturing Frau.

First of all, being as careful as always, I examined each of the choices that affect Frau, and picked the best response. However, I’ve tried this method before. Naturally, I was rejected in the end. At 40 minutes, I had reached my first failure.

“(Well, that was to be expected, but… dammit, I still don’t know what’s wrong.)”

After having been defeated by the game, it was time to wonder about which situations were the most difficult and think, “I don’t know where I went wrong.” When I keep losing to a strong opponent in an action game because my skills are lacking, I always play with the hope that “I’ll get him next time.” And even if I eventually throw in the towel because it’s impossible, even if my attempts failed, there’s some sense of accomplishment. Even if it’s a difficult puzzle where all I can do is guess, I can get close.

However, if it’s a situation where I can’t win, where I can’t solve the problem, then it’s different.

For example, a situation where an opponent’s attack that was easily avoidable mysteriously becomes a direct hit. Or a solution to a puzzle where I think, “This is definitely the answer!”—and the answer turns out to be wrong. Whenever such situations happen, I feel the cruel despair in my heart.

Furthermore, if it wasn’t a bug, I just give up.

Trying to capture Frau is exactly that. Also, this game has so many choices that it would be unrealistic to try every combination possible… If I wanted to do that, I would’ve just looked up a walkthrough. I want to capture her with my own efforts.

“(I’ve already tried everything that I thought was right… anything more would be useless. …Then… I honestly don’t feel trying any more, but…)”

After that, I started my second attempt. This time… I tried thinking differently.

“(Then, I’ll try to make her hate me this time!)”

Well, if this actually clears her route, I’d feel complicated…

While having those thoughts, I finally got to the confession scene. Well, like expected, I was brusquely rejected. Second attempt—failure.

“(That was expected. I didn’t deliver Frau’s lost item, and I ran away as fast as possible when Frau was having a hard time. There’s no reason she would fall in love with someone like that.)”

Rather, in the first place, it’s strange that the staff would choose to put in these bad choices. It’s so bad I would suspect that it was one of Irem’s works.[10]

However, I still don’t get it. Roughly speaking, the choices that I select are most likely correct. Even then, my confession always fails. What in the world…

While agonizing about my troubles, I continued to play and aimlessly tried over and over again. Once I finished two more runs, I put down the controller, lied down, and covered myself with the blankets. …It was about to become midnight.

“(…Is this a hint that I’m fatally incompatible with someone like Tendo-san in the first place…?)”

I realized that I still couldn’t see the light from here. The route that is an easy clear for the rest of the world is impossible for me. …Even games, my favorite thing in the world, just showed me once again why I was a loner.

“(…Am I being conceited…?)”

I’m aware that the difference between Tendo-san and I is like the moon and a turtle. But the thing that irritates me is… the fact that I still hold onto the ridiculous dream of getting closer to Tendo-san. …Even though I was the one to reject her invitation. I’m a shameful, lowlife person. But… but…

“…”

I quickly got up and grabbed the controller again. If it was the old me, I would’ve given up already. Because I play games to have fun, or something like that. Because there’s no point in doing something impossible.

My fundamental values remain the same. However…

“(This game… isn’t just to play! I don’t want to give up so easily!)”

With renewed determination, I tried again for the 5th time. However, right as I reached the first set of choices, I noticed that my smartphone’s notification light was blinking.

“(Oh right, I turned off vibration and sound to focus on the game.)”

I stopped playing, unlocked my phone and checked my notifications.

There was a notification from the messaging application that Aguri forcibly downloaded, and one from my social networking game.

“(Oh, it’s from Aguri-san and Uehara-kun. Wow, I’m super happy.)”

Even though I received a text message when I first downloaded the application, this was my first time getting a message after that.

“(Ahh, I get to experience things like this in my life too…)”

I received a chat from a friend. … After savoring the small happiness I got from the message, I cheerfully looked at the message from Aguri-san.

<Amano-chi, you should go to sleep and look forward for tomorrow!>

<Your complexion is reeaaallly important in affecting other’s impressions>

<Don’t play games all night!>

<Ah, but even Amano-chi isn’t that stupid. Sorry. Good night!>

“I’m really sorrrryyyyy!”

I kneeled on the bed and prostrated myself towards my smartphone. I then immediately sent a reply.

<Thank you very much for your concern! This unworthy Amano feels very honored! Farewell!>

I sent some strange texts because I was nervous. Even then, I feel like my enthusiasm got through at least.

After calming down and controlling my breath, this time, I opened Uehara-kun’s message.

<Hey Amano, I heard you’re planning on talking to Tendo tomorrow>

<If that’s the case, I’ll gather some people because it’ll be a special event!>

<Let’s do it in a huge crowd, this event!>

<Then if Tendo becomes friends with you, your standing will increase immediately!>

<Yea, it’s a good idea, a good idea! That’s why I’m acting quickly!>

<Well, if you fail, everyone will see lololololol>

“That isn’t something to ‘lololololol’ abooooouuuuuuuuttttttttttttt!”

What is he doing!? This person, what the actual hell is he doing!? Uehara-kun!? Aren’t you having way too much fun!? No, he’s been having way too interested in my relationships to begin with! Also, why is he assuming that I’ll succeed!? Does my relationship with Tendo-san look that good!?

I immediately started typing out a reply in a panic.

“Let’s say, ‘Don’t do anything excessive…’ …”

But at that point, I went back and deleted what I just wrote. After thinking about it for a short while, I started typing again.

<Thank you. Although Uehara-kun’s expectations may be, frankly, a bit too high, I will do my best to meet them>

I let out a sigh.

“…For someone who worked this much for me… I can’t reply with such a harsh tsukkomi.”

He’s overestimating the relationship between me and Tendo-san, and I can’t help but think that his help is too excessive.

Even then, he’s a friend that has always helped me, I can’t help but feel thankful.

Afterwards, I pressed the home button and opened the social networking game. It looks like I received a message from someone. How strange.

I quickly opened it, and… like I thought, it was from the only player I talk with, MONO.

<Let’s do our best>

It was only one sentence—like always, it was plain and simple. I think they probably want me to participate in defeating the current raid boss (a limited time boss).

“(MONO is probably a shy, awkward person.)”

But that’s why I really like that person. …I’m saved by our tiny connection.

<Yup, let’s do our best>

I sent my own short reply, finished the quest, checked that I received no further messages from Uehara-kun and Aguri-san, then turned off my phone.

However, for a while… I continued to look at my smartphone.

“(…Thank you Aguri-san, Uehara-kun, MONO.)”

I realized that despite feeling like the lowest of the low a few minutes ago, I felt a lot better right now.

With renewed fighting spirit, I set my smartphone aside, grabbed my controller and looked at the screen.

On the screen, it was the main character’s childhood friend, not Frau. The first set of choices in the game is deciding whether or not to walk home with her or not.

Naturally, to aim for Frau, I had to make sure to stay away from her. Like always, I was about to refuse her offer—

“…Wait.”

Right then, I suddenly stopped my hand. …Maybe…

It was an idea that never came to me before. However, a strange conviction filled my heart.

Using the D-pad, I scrolled over to the option to accept her invitation and selected it.

“(Maybe…)”

While thinking, “This may work”, I went through the playthrough, being nice to everyone and not just to Frau. I went on dates with my childhood friend, helped out my kouhai, and cheerfully did favors for my senpai. This is usually a strategy seldom used for any route other than the harem end. I made sure to not go on that route, though.

Of course, using such a method also decreases my time with Frau. My date event with Frau was still out of reach. However, even then…

“(This is… perhaps…)”

I kept acting according to my strange conviction in my heart and got closer to all the heroines.

At last—I reached the confession scene.

Like always, the main character started talking first.

“Please… please go out with me!”

I had been hearing those words too many times to count over the past few days. And then, Frau would also say the same words with a troubled face—

“…I’m glad…”

“Eh?”

My reaction and the main character’s reaction were the same. After all, Frau…

Frau had a tear-stained, yet delightful, expression—one that I had never seen before.

With a slightly embarrassed smile… and with tears dripping down her cheeks, she responded.

“Yes, please take care of me. …My kind hero that I love.”

Her smile looked like it was wrapped in light as the scene faded out and the ending credits started to roll.

“…”

However, I continued to look at the screen, feeling dumbfounded.

“(Did I… clear it?)”

I can’t believe it at all. I can’t believe it because I was completely stuck and thought it was nearly impossible. I thought that the best I could do was to look at a guide or give up.

Even then, this time… I was able to reach the ending. Furthermore, using my own power—

“(…No, that’s wrong.)”

orrecting myself, I looked at my smartphone that I put to the side. …It was thanks to Aguri-san, Uehara-kun, and MONO that I realized that I shouldn’t “focus only on my relationship with Frau”.

No matter how much I love a person, it doesn’t mean that I should treat everyone else rudely. That’s obvious. This world doesn’t consist of only two people.

…For a loner like me… because I was someone who was so desperate to make a single friend, that thought never came to me. That’s why only I was unable to capture Frau… who cared about everyone around her and treated them as important people.

“…Thank you.”

Once again, I turned towards my smartphone and showed my gratitude.

After watching through and enjoying the final moments, closing with Frau’s smiling expression, I turned off the game console and lied down under the blankets.

Right now, I don’t feel nervous at all. However, it’s a bit different from feeling confident.

…I realized something.

“(Even if Tendo-san hates me… I’m already happy.)”

I looked at my smartphone lying next to my bed.

If that’s the case… I wonder what I’m afraid of right now.

With the covers up to my neck, I fell into a deep sleep while thinking over and over again about the main character’s gallant figure in “Golden Tricks”.

Uehara Tasuku

During lunch, Tendo is going to go see Amano again.

I heard the news from students of class F when I got to school.

It wasn’t certain, there was no proof, and in the first place, no one knew that I spread the rumor… so it was a rumor that had no credibility at all.

However, that’s why people were so interested. Actually…

“Nee nee, tell me the truth, Uehara!”

Mika, who loved to gossip, grabbed onto the rumors and started talking about the subject like I thought she would. She doesn’t know that I’m the source of those rumors.

It was before homeroom in the morning. As Amano entered the classroom, clearly confused by the mood, and looked at my direction, acting a bit suspiciously. I replied, “Who knows?” to Mika.

“I’m not really close to Tendo. I don’t know her every move.”

“Hmm~? Ah, no way~.”

Mika pulled back, seemingly understanding. Looking around the room, I noticed the suspicious gazes of Reina nad Daiki who are particularly perceptive. I averted my eyes from the two of them and thought back on the morning.

Actually, my reply to Mika was about half truth, half lie. It is true that I’m not that close to Tendo, but I did ask her to come to class F during lunch break.

“I think Amano has something important to say, so come over to my class during lunch.”

When I went to class A and told her early in the morning, Tendo’s face was blank.

“(It’s probably since getting called out for a confession during lunch is an ordinary thing now.)”

Once I told her that Amano had something important to talk about, it was clear that she was disturbedupset, her eyes swimming. However, she didn’t blush, so she probably didn’t misunderstand that as a confession. Or maybe Tendo has a bad imagination.

“(Well, in Tendo’s case, she’s always rejected by Amano in the first place.)”

He rejected her club invitation, always gets in a fuss with Hoshinomori and Aguri, and always talks about his different values about gaming. Since someone like that has “something important to say”, she would obviously be more wary than happy.

However, this is another one of riajuu Uehara Tasuku’s ingenious tactics.

“(If she goes in thinking that it’ll be something bad, the chances of the friend request being successful goes up!)”

Yes, this is one of the basic techniques of business and fraud. It’s the same thing as marking up a product that originally costs 50,000 yen up to 100,000 yen, then holding a big 50% off sale and bringing the price back to 50,000 yen. The buyer leaves feeling like they saved money.

After making Tendo feel anxious, she’ll spend the morning having thoughts like “Is it about not joining the Gamers Hobby Club?”, or “Have I been rude to Amano-kun lately?”, or “Maybe he’s going to tell me to stop being concerned with him because it makes him stand out…” However, once she hears Amano’s actual question… “Please become friends with me”—she’ll immediately feel relieved!

Afterwards, Tendo would reply with “Oh, if it was about that, then of course it’s fine”, and the chance of success will practically be a 100%!

“Fufufu… Amano, this is how winners act.”

“Tasuku, what are you muttering with such a smug look?”

I realized that I looked creepy to Masaya. Clearing my throat once, I stood up and left the classroom to go to the bathroom. On my way, I sent a look towards Amano.

As I walked in the hallway slowly, I heard the footsteps of someone jogging towards me from behind.

“What is it, Uehara-kun?”

Amano asked while walking next to me. I sent him a sidelong glance and replied.

“Oh, come with me to the bathroom, Amano. I have something to talk about that’s difficult to say in the classroom.”

“…”

“Hey, why are you pulling back?”

I noticed that Amano had stopped walking.

“…Sorry Uehara-kun, I don’t swing that way…”

“Hey wait, you bastard. If you make a misunderstanding like that I’m going to get super angry at you.”

After sending him another sharp look, Amano silently walked next to me again. After letting out a sigh, I started talking about the issue at hand.

“Uehara-kun. Tendo-san is coming to the classroom at lunch. Why?”

“Oh, you already heard about it? Who told you?”

“Your conversation with your friends.”

“You’re the same gloomy, eavesdropping loner as always.”

“I think it’s better than a bully who sets up other people’s confessions on their own.”

Amano replied, looking sullen. For some reason, it seems like he’s somewhat seriously mad. I forgot about this lately, but he doesn’t like to yield, and is the unexpectedly aggressive type.

Once we walked away from the classrooms and arrived at the bathroom, which didn’t have many people walking around, I leaned against the wall.

“It was my bad to do things on my own. But if you don’t like it, I’ll undo everything I’ve done.”

“I-if I don’t like it…”

As Amano hesitated, I continued on.

“Yea. Actually, since you were going to talk to her today, you would’ve probably come to me to call Tendo, right? I think it’s too high of a hurdle for you to go directly to class A and call out to her.”

“Uu… T-that’s true, but…”

In the past, he was super nervous to even call out to Hoshinomori, who’s also a loner. I think it’s impossible for him to call out to someone like Tendo in class A.

Amano was shaking—I must’ve hit the bull’s eye. Even then, he sent a dissatisfied glare at me.

“I’m thankful for setting this up for me, but… but couldn’t you make it more private? It’s not the two of us, but do your friends and acquaintances really have to be there?”

“Didn’t you get my message? If you do it in front of a lot of people… in other words, we’re also aiming to increase your social position by doing it in front of class F.”

“I don’t want to increase my social standing and get along with Tendo-san at the same time.”

Amano looked at me with a manly look that shocked me slightly. …Seriously, this guy is troublesome as always. That’s also one of his good parts… but that’s also the biggest reason I can’t be a casual friend.

I scratched my head and replied with my own logic.

“…I already said this before when we were arguing, but I think that even the most superficial of relationships are important.”

“…”

“If I use your words, what is useless to you is important to me and other people. In anime, manga… and even games, there’s no one, not even a rock, that doesn’t care about their social standing. Since I think it’s necessary to live, I think I have help you out.”

“That’s…:

Amano’s eyes wavered. …Right now, I’m acting selfishly. Fundamentally, he’s the type to put priority on his own hobbies and his own wishes. His sense of priority is different than mine, so it’s strange that I’m pushing my logic onto him.

But even then…

“Hey Amano, what type of person do you think I hate the most?”

“What now? …Are you trying to say that you hate indecisive people like me?”

“Regrettable, but that’s wrong. That’s the type of person I hate the second most.”

“I am pretty disliked!”

“The type of person I hate the most is…”

I looked at his eyes as I paused for effect.

“People who wish to hold onto their ‘honor of not fussing over honor or social status’.”

“…”

“I could respect a fool that really didn’t have any aspirations or was super prideful. However, staying aloof because they believe that they’re so cool even though they’re alone isn’t a difference in belief or a way of thinking; it’s just the carelessness of a narcissist who lacks ambition.”

“…That’s harsh.”

“No, I wasn’t talking about you. All I was saying is that either way, you’re the stupid type.”

“H-how embarrassing.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

“Is that so…”

Amano looked despondent. This guy’s emotions are really hectic. Wait, that might be my fault.

…Well, can’t help it—I’ll simply summarize everything I want to say right now.

“Hey, Amano. This is for your future. Try imagining this for a bit. For example, if you and Tendo become friends… what will the other students think when they see you two walking together?”

“…Ah, I see…”

Amano’s eyes opened wide in realization. I continued to talk.

“A relationship that isn’t recognized by other people is difficult to maintain, Amano. It might be… a bit overkill to relate it to a story like Romeo and Juliet, but there isn’t a healthy relationship is this world that lasts if it’s only recognized by the people in the relationship.”

“I guess. It’s strange that I’m trying to get closer to Tendo-san for no reason, after all.”

No, I didn’t go that far. Rather, it would be a pain to follow up, so I just continued to say what I wanted to say.

“In other words, that’s why it’s good to have a few people see you ask her to be your friend. It’s also good to do it in a place with some distant acquaintances who will irresponsibly spread the information about it. Maybe an area like downtown where strangers walk by. And, to fulfill all the conditions, somewhere where it’s easy to ask her—”

“Class 2-F! There’s lots of people, and enough time during lunch break!”

“Yup, it’s perfect.”

I smiled. For some reason, Amano looked really excited and grabbed my hand.

“As expected of Uehara-kun! You’re amazing! Sorry, I was being foolish! Thank you! Thank you very much!”

“No, no, I did nothing.”

I stayed humble. Right then, the chime rang through the hallway. Letting out a voice in panic, he returned to the classroom. While chasing after him… I secretly let out a crooked smile.

“(—But that was all a superficial reason!)”

While looking at his back, I laughed evilly.

“(My true aim is to see how Aguri will look!)”

Naturally, Aguri will also come to today’s lunch event to watch.

When Amano asks Tendo to be his friend… I’ll be hidden among many students and will be properly able to observe Aguri! I may be nice to Amano, but I also have my doubts—she’s my girlfriend!

“(In a circumstance where only Amano’s acquaintances are watching, Aguri might try to conceal her actual reaction! That’s how it is in a classroom full of people! However, it’s difficult to completely hide your reaction! Since everyone’s eyes will be on Tendo, Aguri won’t even have a hint that I’ll be there watching her!)”

That was my aim.

Right when Amano asks Tendo, I have to look for Aguri’s initial reaction.

If Aguri and Amano were really just friends, Aguri would cheerfully support Amano and Tendo’s friendship from the bottom of her heart.

However, if she shows an expression of mixed feelings, then she is definitely cheating. It’s proof that Aguri has been charmed by Amano.

“(…Well, the worst possible reaction is if Aguri awkwardly sees me, who is worthy enough to be her boyfriend, looking at her…)”

I set up this event with Tendo as a facade to see if Aguri and Amano were together… In other words, I cannot be seen. If Aguri looks at me with an awkward expression… Uwa, I’m shaking just from the thought! Well, that still isn’t the worst case!

“(Anyway, this will settle things. I should know Aguri’s true feelings!)”

So, this event is pretending to be “Amano’s friend request”… but it’s actually litmus test for Aguri’s feelings!

“(Don’t underestimate a riajuu’s strategic prowess!)”

I let out a war cry in my mind to no one in particular. However, I feel like my middle school self is still looking down on me—what does this have to do with you!? Be quiet, you studious bastard! Your studying is finally being useful for once!

Yes yes, I also have another reason why I got Amano to ask in front of class 2-F. That would be to get Hoshinomori to see it as well.

“(If there were only a small amount of people, she would definitely not come, but she might watch since there will be a lot of onlookers in this situation. And then, if Amano and Tendo become friends, she’ll feel jealous, and if they don’t become friends, she’ll feel sympathetic for a fellow loner, then develop a crush on him! No matter what happens, I’m a genius!)”

If I say so myself… my mind is terrifyingly sharp. In this world, do you think there are any other high school boys that are this good at manipulating human relationships? Nope, I think not.

As I followed Amano into the classroom and went to my seat, I was no longer able to hold back my grin.

“Fufufu… kuku… kufufufufufu!”

“No, Tasuku. Honestly, you’re so gross today. I wish you weren’t my friend anymore.”

Ignoring Masaya’s words, I marveled at my own professional human relationship skills, and kept laughing creepily.

Aguri

“(Amano-chi’s gonna ask during break, huh…)”

It’s third period right now. Aguri is skillfully spinning her pen as she gazes at the boring kanji written on the blackboard.

“(…Aguri doesn’t mean to incite anything, but honestly, Aguri thinks that something will go wrong…)”

Aguri let out a sigh.

“(Somehow… even though there’s no evidence, Aguri has a hunch that things won’t go as planned. Aguri’s sixth sense is tingling…)”

After hearing Amano-chi’s story, Aguri doesn’t think that there’s no hope at all regarding Tendo-san. After all, Amano-chi is really self-deprecating, so his words didn’t seem like they were just wishful thinking. Also, Aguri thinks that their relationship isn’t bad to begin with. But…

“Somehow, it feels like Amano-chi and Tendo-san have a different relationship than Aguri actually thinks they do. It’s strange.)”

It’s doesn’t seem particularly bad… but if Aguri had to say something, then it feels like their fate is fatally bad?

Aguri stopped spinning her pen and started to draw circles and arrows to create a relationship diagram.

“(Amano-chi likes Tendo-san… or rather, admires Tendo-san. Aguri likes Tasuku. No, love. It’d be great if that could be confirmed right now, but…)”

Aguri can’t move her pen anymore. …Even though there are lines drawn from Tendo-san and Tasuku to Amano-chi and Aguri, Aguri can’t confirm their feelings. Furthermore, with the addition of Hoshinomori Chiaki, things are even more complicated.

“(Amano-chi hates that girl… is what Aguri would like to say, but those two clearly get along well. Yea. Well, it’ll be fine to just write my guesses too.)”

This time, Aguri included all the unconfirmed information too.

“(Tendo-san feels… well… normal? Towards Amano-chi. It doesn’t look like she hates him. And then, Amano-chi and Aguri are comrades. Then, Tasuku’s feelings towards Tendo-san is… love, it seems like.)”

After drawing a line from Tasuku to Tendo-san, Aguri wrote “Love?”. …The tip of my pen is shaking. …Uu, don’t cry, Aguri! Don’t cry! Aguri is strong!

“(Well then, the problem is this girl…)”

Hoshinomori Chiaki. She’s honestly harder to read than Tendo-san. Aguri doesn’t know much about her. Well, if Aguri were to write what she does know…

“(Clearly she has feelings… towards Tasuku, right?)”

Again, Aguri drew a line from Hoshinomori Chiaki to Tasuku and wrote, “Love?”. …Well, Tasuku is the coolest person on the planet, so it can’t be helped that he’s so popular. It’s not a shock. It’s completely not a shock.

The problem is, what does Tasuku think of her…

“(Hoshinomori Chiaki… even Amano-chi says that she’s a quiet, boring otaku girl…)”

For some reason, it seems like Amano-chi tends to underestimate girls, so his words were untrustworthy. Honestly, she’s super cute. However…

“(But Tasuku’s type was… a cheerful, light-hearted girl, right?)”

At least Aguri thought that was the case, so that’s why Aguri is the Aguri now.

But thinking back on it… Tasuku has never been super into the Aguri now! Even back then, Tasuku was always kind to Aguri, and Aguri thought that was really nice, and Aguri really likes him, really really likes, ahh, Tasuku…

“(…Hah! No, no, I got off topic!)”

Aguri has to focus. Not on the lesson, but on this relationship diagram.

“(Thinking about it again… maybe Tasuku just likes everyone.)”

Tasuku’s always nice to everyone without discriminating. In other words… he might not like cheerful, light-hearted girls, but he might also like cheerful, light-hearted girls.

There are various events lately that line up with this theory. But…

“(Uu…)”

Oh no, tears are forming. What is this, this is bad! Aguri might actually start crying in the classroom. That’s no good. A girl who cries about her boyfriend during class is seriously scary. Aguri knows that. Calm down. Calm down, Aguri.

…Fuu. Alright… let’s write…

“(The line from Tasuku to Hoshinomori-san is…)”

The tip of the pen kept shaking as Aguri started to write the word “Like”—the pen escaped from the piece of paper. The braid-glasses class chairman sent me a look, but Aguri ignored it and held her head in her hands.

“(What is this great resistance!? When it was Tendo-san, Aguri was barely able to draw the line, but… when Aguri thinks that Tasuku might like Hoshinomori Chiaki, a girl just like the plain, boring Aguri, Aguri hates it!)”

As expected, Aguri won’t allow this. Aguri doesn’t want to allow this. …No, even though Amano-chi and Aguri already saw the definitive evidence… s-still, Aguri doesn’t know yet! Yea! That’s right! Aguri might be mistaken!

“(Y-yea, Aguri still doesn’t know. So… let’s confirm it again! Let’s do that!)”

Aguri suddenly came up with a good idea and raised her head from her desk.

“(That’s right! Amano-chi’s event at lunch! Let’s measure Tasuku’s feelings then!)”

The new idea lifted Aguri’s spirits.

“(First of all, if Tasuku actually likes Tendo-san, he won’t like Amano-chi’s request. He might be helping since Amano-chi’s his friend and he can’t help it, but… if he doesn’t like it, it’ll definitely show on his face!)”

Also, among a huge crowd, he won’t bother to hide his feelings!

“(And then, if he really likes Hoshinomori-san… Tasuku won’t be looking at Amano-chi, but at Hoshinomori-san instead! He’ll be wondering what Hoshinomori-san thinks of Amano-chi! He’ll definitely look at her reaction!)”

At the very least, Aguri can figure out if Tasuku likes Tendo-san or Hoshinomori-san.

Oh, but…

“(The worst thing that could happen is if Tasuku looks over at Aguri. After all… if he sees his girlfriend while meeting the person he cheated with, mou, I don’t know how a cheater thinks! Well, Tasuku probably won’t do that, though!)”

At any rate, everything Aguri learns during lunch will be the truth.

In other words… Amano-chi’s event has turned into a litmus test to find out Tasuku’s true feelings by focusing on his expressions!

“(Ah, Aguri is such a smart girl! As expected of Tasuku’s girlfriend and Amano-chi’s shishou! Aguri’s craftiness is amazing!)”

While ignoring the lesson going on, Aguri let out quiet laughter.

“Ufu… fufu… kufufufu…”

“A-aguri-san?”

Ignoring the class chairman’s worried look, Aguri marveled at her own professional human relationship skills, and kept laughing creepily.

Hoshinomori Chiaki

It looks like Tendo-san will go to Keita during lunch.

I heard the information from my classmates during break time—or, more accurately, after I overheard my classmates’ conversation, I stopped using up my stamina in my social networking game and contemplated over the information by myself.

“(Tendo-san… has business with Keita? I wonder why…)”

I peeked at Tendo-san. The concerned person was in the middle of the classroom, having a pleasant chat with the other students. As always, she’s beautiful, even to me. A sight for sore eyes, one could say. …For some reason, a sigh leaves my mouth.

“(Obviously, people other than Uehara-san would like her…)”

It’d be absurd to call her my rival in love. There’s a huge difference between her and me, who’s currently sitting down in the corner of the classroom, playing a social networking game quietly. Or rather, I feel like I haven’t said a word since I left the house. Even though it’s break time after 3rd period. …I think my vocal cords are deteriorating.

While thinking about such things, I looked at Tendo-san again. Obviously, the rumors about what will happen at lunch haven’t reached her friends in the middle of the classroom. The people talking about the rumors were still hanging around the edge of the classroom, looking towards the middle.

“(Isn’t the evidence really weak? No, no… but…)”

I looked at Tendo-san again. …Fumu.

“(The normal Tendo-san would clearly say whether a rumor was true or not…)”

This aspect of her is really refreshing, and it’s probably part of the reason why she’s so popular.

Thinking about it that way, even though there are rumors floating around about Keita, the fact that she’s not reacting to it shows that the situation isn’t normal…

“(W-wait. Is she really going to see Keita…)”

For some reason, I feel uneasy.

“(I mean, I really can’t see the reason. She’s stopped trying to ask him to the Gamers Club… so for her to go see Keita…)”

Since even I can’t tell why, even though I know their circumstances pretty well, other people would be even more doubtful. Well, but…

“(Like the rumors are saying, I don’t think it’s a confession. Between Keita and Tendo-san… well, at best, it would probably be something like ‘please be my friend’?)”

That might be the case. …I mean, I don’t really want to admit it, but Keita and I have a similar sensitivity to things. And for a while now, I’ve felt restless because I wanted to get closer to Tendo-san, who also likes games.

“(Rather than Tendo-san going to Keita, she was probably called there instead. Class F is more or less Keita’s home.)”

After that thought, my curiosity disappeared. I didn’t really want to see Keita get rejected by Tendo-san. Since we’re so similar, I really want to run away from that.

Letting out a sigh, I went back to my social networking game… but as I reopened the application, my hand stopped suddenly.

“(Huh? Doesn’t Keita already have a girlfriend? Aguri-san. Even then, he’s calling out to another girl?)”

Although it’s probably not related to love, it felt a bit strange. I suddenly remembered Tendo-san’s words from the other day.

“(Oh right, Tendo-san… said that ‘I feel like Aguri-san is actually dating Uehara-kun’…)”

Honestly, I don’t remember it too well, but I feel like that’s what she said.

Looking up from my smartphone, I started to fidget again.

“(No, no, that can’t be. After all, I’ve seen Keita and Aguri-san together before. I feel like Keita’s love for Aguri-san is deep…)”

Then, I suddenly hit upon a good idea!

“(Then, then, is Keita’s love for Aguri-san super one-sided!?)”

My body stiffened like it was hit by lightning.

…No way… But everything makes sense that way. I always thought that Keita and Aguri-san didn’t really match, and wondered why a beautiful girl was dating a water flea-like presence. Everything…

“(If we assume that Aguri-san doesn’t have any feelings for him, then various things are explained!)”

My lips trembled.

I-it’s clear to me now. Keita is really the same as I am!

“(After all, Keita and I are super easy!)”

When someone does something remotely nice for us, we stick to them, and if it’s the opposite gender, then we fall in love with them. That’s the history of a loner like Keita and me.

Originally, Aguri-san is like a person from another world for us. However… by some small chance, she must’ve done some minor nice thing for Keita sometime.

“(It’s not strange that Keita fell in love in one blow!)”

Feeling confident, I nodded. In the beginning, Aguri-san would’ve ignored a small flea like Keita. However, that developed into a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship.

How did that happen?

…There’s only one answer.

This is love detective Hoshinomori Chiaki’s excellent love sleuthing skills!

“(Keita is being played with by Aguri-san!)”

This is the only possible truth.

Having glimpsed at one of the frightening mysteries of the world, I trembled.

“(Since Keita’s body isn’t her goal… i-it’s probably money. Asking him to pay at the game center… or, now that I remember, getting him to pay when they went to the cafe together…!)”

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced.

“(H-how scary. T-that’s why people like us can’t go outside! All riajuus are evil! They’ll have us on the palm of their hand, dressing up as angels even though they’re actually the devil! Oh, but Uehara-san is different.”

I’m amazed at how easy Keita is. Good grief, that hopeless chibi fell in love just because someone was somewhat nice to him. Good grief.

“(I… I have to make sure!)”

I looked up with a determined look. …I really hate Keita, but I can’t stand to see someone so similar to me get played by a riajuu.

“(I-I have to make him see the truth…!)”

I, the love detective, suddenly noticed something.

“(That’s right…! Asking Tendo-san to be his friend… is an SOS from Keita! Since he can’t separate from Aguri-san by his own will, this is the best SOS he can do!)”

Having noticed the desire of someone just like me, small tears formed in my eye.

“(I got it, I got it, Keita. Today’s lunch break. I… having received your message, will go to class F to confirm the truth about the devil! Tendo-san please receive his message as well!)”

I sent a strong look towards Tendo-san, who turned around to look at me, as if she sensed it. In response, I nodded my head in a deliberate manner.

“???”

Tendo-san acted like she was confused. …Goodness, what a good actor. Since she’s smart, she must’ve noticed all of Aguri-san’s evil deeds and decided to accept Keita the flea’s invitation. Why is she such a nice person?

I nodded at Tendo-san once again.

Finally going back to the game I held off on playing… I entered the battle against the voluptuous female raid boss and thoroughly crushed her.

Tendo Karen

It’s lunch right now. I’m on my way from class A to class F.

Like always, I was walking down the hall confidently with my chest puffed out… but unlike my outside appearance, I was feeling uneasy inside.

“(Ahh, I don’t get it at all! Why did Amano-kun call for me!?)”

After Uehara-kun called out to me first thing in the morning, the doubts and anxiety swirled around in my mind. As I headed towards the stairs to get to class F, I still couldn’t think of a reason.

Passing in front of class C, I was still frantically thinking for a reason.

“(Honestly, the most likely thing is… breaking off relations.)”

The blood drained from my face. I didn’t want to think about that case, but when I think about our delicate relationship, it’s the most probable answer.

“(For someone who likes to play games calmly, interacting with someone like me does great damage and gives him no advantages at all. Whenever we meet, he looks uncomfortable…)”

And then there are the troubles with the Gamers Club too. Amano-kun and I still feel awkward about that incident.

And, ordinarily, it’s really strange that Amano-kun and I still talk now and then. In the end, I also refused his invitation to the Gamers Hobby Club, so we’re not really related in any way. Even then, we still went on a walk for some reason.

Also, I know that I’m more or less a special person here. It’s just a fact; I’m not trying to brag.

“(Since Amano-kun is a timid person… talking with someone like me is a definite no…)”

It’s not like he’s being excessively self-conscious. It’s a fact that I stand out. It’s not something I’m particularly proud of… but I wonder. Is that also suspicious? At the very least, I thought that Amano-kun would naturally join the Gamers Club because I invited him, but maybe that was being too haughty.

“(I’m… probably an annoying person to him.)”

I’m confident in my abilities. I’m also aware of the effort I put in. I think my popularity and my reliability have to do with my effort and my ability.

But honestly, I think it’s questionable if I’m a “charming person”.

“(At least… Amano-kun probably doesn’t trust me.)”

The way he acts with me is clearly different than how he interacts with Uehara-kun and Hoshinomori-san.

He’s always flustered whenever he talks with me… and always… looks uncomfortable… and, only talks clearly to say that his opinions differ from mine.

“(That’s… no matter how you put it, our relationship is bad.)”

Passing by class D, I let out a small sigh, trying not to let others see it.

Feeling a tiny bit depressed… in the next moment, I looked to the front and let out my fighting spirit.

“(Hold on, Tendo Karen! Even if you encounter a bad situation, at least you can make it through by behaving like your usual self!)”

The girl known as Tendo Karen is resilient in the most crucial moments. No matter how much I may waver, in important moments, I can conduct myself with firm resolve, as if I was confident from the very beginning.

Passing by class E, I warned myself.

“(Under these circumstances, you have to prepare yourself, Tendo Karen! You have to respond honestly and truthfully!)”

Yes, I will honestly and truthfully face myself. Using Misumi-kun’s advice and the practice I got with Hoshinomori-san, now is the time to put it into action.

“(First, I will listen to Amano-kun’s words sincerely. Afterwards, I won’t put on a strange facade and reject, but I will answer him with my honest feelings.)”

There’s nothing to it. The essence of everything is always simple.

“(I will face Amano-kun from the front. That’s it.)”

With renewed determination, I walked into class F with an invigorating smile.

“Excuse me. Is Amano-kun here?”

Amano Keita

“Excuse me. Is Amano-kun here?”

When Tendo-san appeared at the entrance, my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my mouth.

“(S-she came! She came!)”

Although I prepared for it the whole day, I didn’t believe that she would come and say my name, and I was starting to think that she might not come.

“I-I’m h-h-h-here!”

All of the gazes in the room turned to Tendo-san. I stood up while raising my hand as I trembled all over.

As I did so, all the gazes the turned towards me. …U-uu!

Tendo-san was composed like always and had an elegant smile—she looked like a model with her beautiful posture and her gait as she walked towards me.

In the crowded classroom, filled with people from other classes who had heard the rumor, Tendo-san was like Moses parting the red sea as she walked.

I felt the same dizziness from the attention I got when I was invited to the Gamers Club, but uehara-kun grabbed my arm and said “Hey”, bringing me back to my sense.

Looking around the classroom, I obviously saw Uehara-kun, and Aguri-san in the distance… and, looking like she had followed Tendo-san, I saw Chiaki poking her head out around the entrance.

And, those four people… unlike the other onlookers, who were smirking at the situation, they all had earnest expressions.

“(Everyone… to go so far… for me…)”

I was really moved. Even though I don’t want to include seaweed girl… well, I guess she’s still a friend. I’m grateful.

“Good afternoon, Amano-kun.”

Standing in front of me, Tendo-san greeted me with a smile. For a moment, my throat was blocked and I sounded like a domesticated chicken as I stuttered out, “G-g-g-g, goo—!”, but looking at Uehara-kun and everyone’s faces again… I calmed down my mind, looked straight at Tendo-san, and replied confidently.

“Good afternoon, Tendo-san. Sorry for calling you here today.”

“No, it’s fine. Then…”

Tendo-san hesitated for a moment, but immediately recovered and asked me a question with a smile.

“Then, Amano-kun. What business do you have with me today?”

“Y-yea. About that…that’s…”

Right then, I noticed that all the gazes in the classroom were focused on us.

“(T-that’s natural. Untill now, everyone was just glancing at us… everyone must have noticed that ‘things are starting now’ and are looking over here…)”

I was conscious of all the attention that we were gathering.

“…?”

Tendo-san tilted her neck as I sunk into silence. While trying to ignore the surroundings, I continued to talk with trembling lips.

“U-um, that’s, um… um… i-it’s really hard to say, but…”

“!”

Right then, Tendo-san’s face looked really sad. I tilted my neck, thinking that her reaction was odd.

“? T-tendo-san? What’s wrong?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Continue, Amano-kun. …I am prepared.”

“H-ha.”

Wait, “prepared”? I’m only asking her to be my friend—is that really necessary?

But then, I just realized!

“(O-oh! She’s prepared to refuse!)”

I was astonished. …I guess my loss has already been determined.

Tendo-san spoke up as I stood still.

“Amano-kun? What is it?”

“Huh? Oh, no… it’s noth—…”

I slumped my shoulders in disappointment and replied.

“(…Should… should I just quit?)”

I abruptly looked up.

After all, this… this has no meaning. It’s pointless to be bold here.

It’s like using up a valuable recovery item during the boss fight that determines whether or not I lose.

“Um… Tendo-san. It’s really noth—…”

While talking, I peaked at Uehara-kun to see if he was angry.

However, he was…

“(Eh? It looks like he’s not even looking!)”

I don’t get it. He was looking at somewhere else with much focus.

Or rather, I noticed that Aguri-san and even Chiaki weren’t even looking. …What is this. What are you guys doing? Why is everyone looking somewhere else…

“(Hah! That’s wrong! This… that’s right!)”

I noticed their aim. They’re not trying to be cruel. If they were so heartless, they wouldn’t have come in the first place. They didn’t come just because they were curious. They must be seeing how things are going with me and Tendo-san.

But then, what are they looking at?

There’s only one answer.

“(Everyone… everyone’s being so considerate…!)”

Knowing that I’m weak to attention, seeing my heart get discouraged… everyone’s so considerate!

They’re trying to reduce my burden by looking away! Really, even though they want to watch, even though things won’t change!

“(Everyone… all this… for me…!)”

Inside my heart, a light shone once again.

Suddenly, I recalled… the events of last night, when I cleared “Golden Tricks”.

“(I see… that’s right. I’m borrowing everyone’s power… Even if I think I’ll lose, that doesn’t mean I can’t try my best!)”

What do you mean, “because my loss has been determined”. Do I intend to show my back as I shamelessly scurry home after having borrowed the strength of my amazing friends?

That’s wrong, Amano Keita!

Even though I’m a mob character and not the main character of a story, that doesn’t matter now!

This is, as a person, as a man, what I should do! In other words…

“(Showing my friends my proud loss… this is a man!)”

Having resolved myself, I looked at Tendo-san with an earnest gaze.

“…!”

To my change in attitude, Tendo-san sat up straight, and the tension in the class rose.

I looked at my friends, who were looking somewhere else just like before, and smiled.

I started to talk with courage.

“Tendo-san, please—”

Uehara Tasuku

“(Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Why is Aguri looking at me super awkwardlyyyyyy!?)”

While Amano and Tendo’s event moved along nicely, I… was amazed how I was able to guess the worst reaction that Aguri could have.

“(I-i-if she’s looking at me in this situation… that means… that means that she’s completely in love with Amano, and is thinking how easy I was to triiiccckkkkkkk!)”

But what is that super awkward expression!? I’m the one that feels awkward! It’s been decided! Let alone cheating, doesn’t that mean that he’s your favorite!? That’s a lie! But before I knew it… with Amano…!

Then, in an unrelated matter to my intense shaking—

“Tendo-san, please—”

—Before I knew it, the climax of Amano’s event had come.

Aguri

“(Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Why is Tasuku looking at Aguri super awkwardlyyyyyy!?)”

While Amano-chi and Tendo-san’s event moved along nicely, Aguri… was amazed how Aguri was able to guess the worst reaction that Tasuku could have.

“(I-i-if Tasuku’s looking at Aguri in this situation… it means… it means that Tasuku is a player who goes around seducing girls! Not Tendo-san, not Hoshinomori-san, but he’s awkwardly looking at Aguri, his girlfriend… this is definite proof that he’s cheatiiiiinnnnnngggggg!)”

But what is that super awkward expression!? Aguri’s the one that feels awkward! Isn’t it certain now!? It’s been decided! It’s been decided that he’s a cheater! This is a lie, right!? But when… when did he abandon Aguri…!

Then, in an unrelated matter to Aguri’s intense shaking—

“Tendo-san, please—”

—Before Aguri knew it, the climax of Amano-chi’s event had come.

Hoshinomori Chiaki

“(Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Why are Uehara-san and Aguri-san are looking at each other super awkwardlyyyyy!?)”

While Keita and Tendo’s event moved along nicely, I… was amazed how I was able to guess the worst reaction that the two of them could have.

“(I-i-if they’re looking at each in this situation… that means… that means that they’re secretly dating, and are purposely thinking back on uncomfortable memories to pretend there’s nothing going onnnnnnnn!)”

But what is that super awkward expression!? I’m the one that feels awkward! Isn’t it certain now!? It’s been decided! Doesn’t that mean that she’s using Keita for her convenience and is actually going out with Uehara-san!? Or rather, is she using Uehara-san too!? This is a lie, right!? But before I knew it… leave Keita alone…!

Then, in an unrelated matter to my intense shaking—

“Tendo-san, please—”

—Before I knew it, the climax of Keita’s event had come.

Amano Keita

“Tendo-san, please—”

Right as I said those first few words, the various events that happened recently flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.

Miyamoto-san, who wanted a copy of Kurikure 3, Chiaki, who I argued with in our meetings of the Gamers Hobby Club, Misumi-kun, who somehow won a game tournament, and Tendo-san, who I had a medal game showdown with.

And, the most memorable one being the most recent event.

Those unsuccessful endings of “Golden Tricks” that I saw over and over again. Even now, the words of the main character still stuck to my dreams.

Yesterday’s meeting with Aguri-san at the family restaurant. There, I decided to ask Tendo-san. I decided to imitate Aguri-san’s simple, anti-climactic confession.

Gathering my determination through my memories, I paused once in my words.

I cleared my throat, as if to clear the air of all the tension.

And then, once again,

Thinking of the confession scene of “Golden Tricks” and Aguri-san’s stories, I looked into Tendo-san’s eyes and started over.

“Tendo-san, please—”

Tendo Karen

“Tendo-san, please—”

As Amano-kun started to talk with such an earnest look, I went over everything that had happened since yesterday.

Misumi-kun saw how coldly I rejected a confession and admonished me about how I was using my facade, then I tried it on Hoshinomori-san.

“(First, reply with my honest feelings. Then, don’t immediately say a rejection…)”

Ever since then, I’ve been constantly telling myself that.

“(It’s wrong to immediately reject someone I just met like I always do. He… Amano-kun is one of the people I respect the most. These are his words. Even if this is his rejection of me. I… have the obligation to reply to his words from the bottom of my heart without a facade.)”

I resolved myself. Looking determined as well, he started to talk again.

“Tendo-san, please—”

This is just right. Following my beliefs of “not starting with a a rejection” and “replying with my honest feelings”, I cut into his words slightly as I responded with a positive reply.

“Yes—”

Amano Keita

With many students looking on, the fateful moment had come.

“Tendo-san, please go out with me.”

“Yes, gladly.”

…

…

…Oh, that wasn’t what I meant to say—

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?”

In that moment, the whole group let out surprised voices that shook the whole building.

—Thus, on this day,

An unprecedented event that no one expected—even the people involved—occurred. On this day, in this classroom, an unexpected couple was accidentally created between two very different people.

Notes:

1. Flying Get means pre-ordering and obtaining items such as books, CDs, and DVDs before the date they officially go on sale.

2. Frau means woman in German. So, her name means “heavenly woman”.

3. In these next few paragraphs, there are a lot of parts where I think there are references, but I don’t really watch/read too many series, so I have no idea what they refer to. If anyone knows, please comment!

4. The Japanese word used for “virgin” here (童貞) typically refers to boys/males.

5. Sawayaka 3 kumi is a Japanese educational TV show geared towards kids.

6. Capcom loves crashing their helicopters.

7. Zenryoukuzaka is a TV show about female idols running.

8. KISUMAI BUSAKU is a TV show about males trying to prove how cool they are.

9. A spell of restoration from Dragon Quest when they were actually used.

10. Irem is a video game company that produces arcade and early console games.