"Today, I called you all over during break so you could get acquainted beforehand."
Then she crossed her arms. "Anyway, you three need to assist the Student Council with this mixer."
Yukino Yukinoshita continued flipping through her book in silence. Only Yui Hama responded, "We'll do our best."
Hiratsuka Shizuka then went over the various matters concerning the mixer, emphasizing several points.
Especially to Yukino Yukinoshita.
Tsukikawa Shu found it a little boring, but he had gained a rough understanding of the Service Club.
In this world, the Service Club had only two members: Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Hama. There was also one prospective member—the first-year Student Council president, Iroha Isshiki, who often dropped by.
Bored during the meeting, Tsukikawa Shu casually pulled out his phone and browsed the forums about the Inner World.
After the Inner World opened, some surviving players had set up a forum specifically for it over the past few days. Although there were not many users, and plenty of bystanders had come merely to watch the excitement, it was still a suitable platform for players to communicate.
Scrolling to the bottom, he found a post that had practically been buried.
"Widely Recruiting Virtuous Wives!
"Level 20 player offering carries, guaranteed to reach level 15 within three days."
"Also includes plenty of Experience Cards, Class Cards, Skill Cards, and Green Gear Weapons!"
"Sign a Destiny Contract now—just click to receive!"
The detailed content below listed numerous rare items and materials, along with a handsome photo of Tsukikawa Shu.
That was right. This was the marriage recruitment advertisement Tsukikawa Shu had posted.
Tsukikawa Shu glanced at his post. It had fewer than a hundred views, though there were plenty of people cursing him in the comments.
After all, by modern values, treating marriage as a transaction like this was trampling on both the law and human dignity.
But the problem was, none of that existed in the Inner World.
"Honestly, when will these people realize what kind of world they're in?"
Tsukikawa Shu did not care. Once everyone entered the Inner World for a second time, many people would recognize just how dangerous that world was. Then, someone would dig up this post and take it seriously.
And his handsome photo would be proven genuine as well!
Tsukikawa Shu looked over at the meeting again.
Yukino Yukinoshita still maintained the bare minimum of courtesy, sitting quietly without reading. She listened to Hiratsuka Shizuka, though her expression clearly showed that she did not agree with what Hiratsuka Shizuka was saying.
Yui Hama had drifted off while listening. She probably would not be of much use.
"Anyway, that's all I have to say. You two are the face of our school, so don't embarrass me." Hiratsuka Shizuka tapped the table.
Seeing that Hiratsuka Shizuka had finished speaking, Yukino Yukinoshita had no reason to remain. She closed her book and stood up.
"Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, next time we have a meeting, please hold it after school rather than during such a short break." Yukino Yukinoshita's tone remained cool and indifferent.
"Heh, that's because of this brat." Hiratsuka Shizuka glanced at Tsukikawa Shu, who had stood up even earlier than Yukino Yukinoshita. "This guy has a date after school."
"Him?"
Yukino Yukinoshita also looked at Tsukikawa Shu, visibly surprised.
But after thinking about it, it did make sense. Although she truly disliked him, she had to admit that he was... fairly good-looking.
"That's right. Me." Tsukikawa Shu shrugged.
He intended to build a harem, but he had never intended to hide it. He and Goto Hitori had gone on enough dates that quite a few people already knew.
After leaving the clubroom, Tsukikawa Shu headed toward his classroom.
"Stop."
Tsukikawa Shu turned around and saw Hiratsuka Shizuka standing behind him with one hand on her hip.
Then Hiratsuka Shizuka walked up, crossing her arms, a hint of gossiping amusement appearing on her face.
"I really didn't expect you to actually get a girlfriend."
Hiratsuka Shizuka casually slung an arm around Tsukikawa Shu's shoulder. "Hey, hey, she's from another class, right? I don't think I've seen her much. So you like shy girls?"
"If I didn't get a girlfriend soon, I might end up like you, Sensei."
Tsukikawa Shu looked his teacher over as well.
She was attractive, had a great figure, and was skilled at fighting and sports.
"How old are you this year?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.
"You're not allowed to ask a lady's age." Hiratsuka Shizuka flicked him on the head.
"I wouldn't mind taking one more wife."
Tsukikawa Shu rubbed his head. Hiratsuka Shizuka's hit had not hurt at all.
"Then become Prime Minister first and change that damn monogamy law." Hiratsuka Shizuka said.
Then she sighed. "If I were seven or eight years younger... hmm... no, I wouldn't even need that much. Five or six years younger, maybe I really would want an older-woman-younger-man romance with you."
"If we dated, would we be able to get all lovey-dovey around campus whenever we wanted?" Tsukikawa Shu gave his beautiful teacher a meaningful look.
"Dream on. You already have a girlfriend, and you still want to hit on your teacher."
Her slender finger lightly poked Tsukikawa Shu's cheek. Leaning closer, she smiled and said, "Eating from your bowl while eyeing the pot too, huh?"
"Take good care of her. Don't go attracting girls everywhere."
Leaving those words behind, Hiratsuka Shizuka hugged her textbooks and walked away in her high heels.
It was just everyday teasing. Tsukikawa Shu was her student, and his looks alone were enough to catch Hiratsuka Shizuka's attention. It was merely casual banter between them.
Once classes finally ended, Tsukikawa Shu went to find Goto Hitori at their usual spot.
When he walked out of the school building and looked into the distance, he saw Goto Hitori standing by the school gate with her backpack on. He paused slightly.
Goto Hitori was not wearing her usual tracksuit today. Instead, she had changed into a JK uniform, and her hair had been carefully tidied.
The brand-new bow on her head was placed in the most noticeable spot possible.
That really is Bocchi-chan. She's terrified I won't notice, huh? Tsukikawa Shu found it rather amusing.
He checked the system time.
[Time until the Inner World opens: 14:00]
There was still plenty of time. A date would not be a problem.
Then again, the only couple who could still go on a date less than a day after the Inner World opened was probably this young pair of spouses.
"Let's go."
Tsukikawa Shu took Goto Hitori's little hand.
The two wandered around with backpacks on their backs.
A countdown until entering the Inner World was also floating before Goto Hitori's eyes.
Yet even seeing that less than a day remained, she was not worried in the slightest.
With her little hand held by Tsukikawa Shu, she felt an inexplicable sense of security.
Maybe this was what being in love felt like.
But why had he not complimented her changes today?
Had her transformation really been so easily ignored?
Goto Hitori walked half a step behind him, looking at Tsukikawa Shu's back.
Several times, she deliberately showed herself off in front of him.
For example, while eating, she deliberately dropped her chopsticks beside Tsukikawa Shu, then bent down to pick them up so that he could see the white bow on her head.
For example, while shopping, she deliberately walked ahead of him to show off the changes in her appearance.
Yet Tsukikawa Shu acted as if he had noticed nothing and still gave no response.
"Ugh."
Goto Hitori felt a little disappointed.
Before she knew it, the sun gradually dipped westward, and it grew late.
Has my background-character constitution still not gone away? Goto Hitori lowered her head to look at her uniform and tugged at the hem of her skirt.
Even this most conspicuous school uniform had gone unnoticed.
Of course.
She was only wearing an ordinary school uniform. To outsiders, that was perfectly normal.
The two arrived at the roadside together. It was already the latest time to head home, so it was time for them to part ways.
"Hitori."
At that moment, Tsukikawa Shu called out to Goto Hitori, who had just been about to let go of his hand.
"Yes!"
Goto Hitori jumped and answered instinctively.
Then she stood there anxiously, looking at Tsukikawa Shu like a little puppy awaiting orders.
Even in front of Tsukikawa Shu, Goto Hitori still could not change her old habits... or rather, because Tsukikawa Shu was her only lover, she became even more nervous and awkward around him.
But Goto Hitori did not receive any orders or instructions.
All she felt was softness and warmth, damp against her lips.
"Mmmpfh!?"
Goto Hitori leaned back slightly, her body stiffening as she stared blankly at Tsukikawa Shu's face before her.
It was her first time kissing someone...
Wait... don't people close their eyes when kissing in dramas? Should I close my eyes? Should I?
Goto Hitori did not understand. She was completely frozen.
She did not know how to enjoy this warm moment. Caught entirely off guard, she could only stare at him with wide-open eyes.
Still, she could feel the breeze passing by, her long hair gently fluttering, and the train roaring past on the roadside.
Only after a while did Tsukikawa Shu pull away from Goto Hitori's lips.
Goto Hitori remained frozen, her face flushed bright red.
"Y-you-you-you... what are you doing...?"
Goto Hitori was so embarrassed that she wanted to immediately turn into a hammerhead snake and escape.
"You look very cute today."
Tsukikawa Shu smiled. "You're different from usual."
"Y-you-you... you noticed?!" Goto Hitori's face burned red.
"Yeah, I noticed the moment I saw you." Tsukikawa Shu said. "After all, you always put your newest changes right in front of me."
"And the way you kept showing them off was cute too," Tsukikawa Shu added with another smile.
"Ahhhhh..." Goto Hitori was so embarrassed that her head practically began to smoke.
He had clearly known all along, yet she had still cleverly—or so she thought—tried again and again to get his attention...
Thinking about it now, it was unbearably embarrassing!
She had tried more than once to get Tsukikawa Shu's attention!
Bocchi's dark history +1+1+1...
After escorting the utterly mortified Bocchi home and watching her hurriedly shut the door, Tsukikawa Shu smiled as well, bringing this mischievous little performance to an end.
Before you continue