Why Didn't Dumb Yui Give Me a Reward?

Bai Qiu opened his mouth, then realized he couldn't bring himself to say no.

Maybe... he should pick two more.

He could buy her a drink or give her something else in return next time.

"Then I won't hold back."

A smile bloomed across Takamatsu Tomo's face. She held out both hands, and Bai Qiu began choosing.

Yui Hirasawa, sitting to Bai Qiu's left, watched the two of them interact so closely.

The ahoge on top of her head quivered twice, then drooped.

Her eyes turned blank too. She was stunned.

Qiu-chan had actually ignored her, and he'd turned around and started chatting so happily with the new girl...

Unfair! Unfair! That was so mean!

She had to find Hehe and report Bai Qiu's misdeeds.

Yui Hirasawa looked around. Uh... Hehe didn't seem to be here...

Yui Hirasawa wanted to make new friends too.

"Hello, Takamatsu-san. I'm Yui Hirasawa, but you can call me Yui!"

Yui Hirasawa suddenly got up from her seat and stepped into the aisle.

Just like that, she became the third wheel between Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo.

Chapter 3: Why Didn't Dumb Yui Give Me a Reward?

Yui Hirasawa's sudden appearance startled Takamatsu Tomo, making her take a step backward.

"Ah, h-hello, Hirasawa-san."

Still, Takamatsu Tomo did her best to greet Yui Hirasawa.

This girl was so cute!

Like a little animal.

Taking a closer look, Yui Hirasawa noticed.

"Just call me Yui. Qiu-chan and I are good friends too!"

Bai Qiu rolled his eyes.

Dumb Yui clearly had no idea that her excessive enthusiasm could leave a shy person like Takamatsu Tomo at a loss.

Bai Qiu grabbed Yui Hirasawa by the ahoge and pulled her back.

He did it with such practiced ease that it clearly wasn't the first time.

"Yui, you're going to make Takamatsu-san uncomfortable."

"Huh, really? My hair..."

Yui Hirasawa covered her head with both hands.

Watching their amusing exchange, Takamatsu Tomo shook her head.

"It's okay, Yui. Would you like some?"

Takamatsu Tomo held the Band-aids out to Yui Hirasawa.

Bai Qiu had already picked out a few.

But plenty were still left.

"I want some, I want some!"

Yui Hirasawa was clearly very enthusiastic about picking out gifts.

And the pure expression on her face made Takamatsu Tomo feel she genuinely liked them.

Takamatsu Tomo was happy too.

Perhaps she could make a fresh start at this school.

A moment later, Yui Hirasawa finished choosing.

She picked the ones she thought were the cutest.

Takamatsu Tomo felt a little regretful that she hadn't been able to give them all away.

Just as Bai Qiu thought that was the end of it,

Yui Hirasawa's next move left him dumbfounded.

In no time at all, Yui Hirasawa tore off the backing from the Band-aids.

Then she stuck them one by one on all ten of her fingers.

Yui Hirasawa wiggled her fingers toward Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo, wearing a smug smile.

"How's that? Pretty cool, huh?"

Whoa, when did she... Yui was way too fast...

Bai Qiu's brows twitched slightly.

"Yui, you can't just..."

That was way too wasteful.

And wouldn't Takamatsu-san get upset?

Just as Bai Qiu was thinking that, racking his brain for a way to fix things,

Takamatsu Tomo didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, she leaned closer to Yui Hirasawa's hands, her fair cheeks flushing with excitement.

"Yeah! They're so cute!"

Then Yui Hirasawa brought her hands up to Takamatsu Tomo's cheeks.

Takamatsu Tomo pursed her lips, and her pale cheeks reddened even more.

Oh, it was fine?

That was a little different from what he'd imagined...

Takamatsu-san really was a good girl.

Bai Qiu hadn't expected things to turn out this way either.

Still, as long as they didn't end up arguing.

So natural airheads really did counter everything?

"Oh, right, Qiu-chan. What were you about to say just now?"

"Uh, heh-heh. Nothing..."

"Riiing..."

The bell rang, bringing their antics to an end.

Everyone gradually returned to their seats.

The classroom was nearly full.

Yui Hirasawa still wanted to play with Takamatsu Tomo.

But Bai Qiu stopped her.

[You became friends with Takamatsu Tomo and received 200 Notes.]

The system's voice suddenly rang out in Bai Qiu's mind.

Bai Qiu froze for a moment. This was the first reward he'd received.

Come to think of it, where was his Starter Pack?

Bai Qiu pursed his lips. Never mind.

[For your first interaction with a Music Girl, you receive an additional 1,000 Notes.]

[Remaining Notes: 1,200]

Bai Qiu's lips curled up. Not bad.

Now he could exchange them for a reward!

By the way, that meant Takamatsu-san was a girl who played music.

What a pleasant surprise.

Let him guess what she played.

Maybe guitar or bass.

With Takamatsu-san's personality, surely she couldn't be the lead vocalist.

Ahaha, class was starting now.

He'd ask her about it next time he got the chance.

Wait, why hadn't Yui Hirasawa given him a reward?

"Yui, I hope we'll get along from now on too."

Bai Qiu suddenly turned to Yui Hirasawa and spoke earnestly.

Yui Hirasawa looked a little confused, but she still replied,

"Mm-hmm! Don't worry, Qiu-chan. I won't forget about you just because I've made a new friend."

Bai Qiu's mouth twitched.

Still no reward.

Yui, what was the matter with her?!

Could it be that she didn't consider him a friend after all?

No, no, Yui wasn't like that.

Bai Qiu shook his head and chuckled at himself.

Deep down, he sternly reproached himself for suspecting Yui Hirasawa of ill intent.

But soon, Bai Qiu was smiling again.

His clever mind had figured it out.

Yui Hirasawa had nothing to do with music yet.

After all, she could only play the Castanets.

And that had been back in kindergarten.

Looks like she didn't meet the system's definition of a Music Girl.

It was fine. He had plenty of time.

Having sorted it all out, Bai Qiu looked up.

He was ready to properly welcome the first class of the new school year.

Then he saw a face more familiar than any other.

Long, straight black hair and a mature, flawless face.

Her expression just looked a little stern at the moment.

Her chest was exceptionally full beneath her black uniform.

He just couldn't figure out why she'd put a white lab coat on over it.

Though it did look pretty cool.

Wasn't this Hiratsuka Shizuka—Shizuka, Cute Shizuka-sensei?

If Bai Qiu had transmigrated ten years earlier, maybe he would've tried his best to marry her.