It was a natural expression of a heartfelt love for life and a positive attitude; an ability to keenly sense when a group's spirits were low and find the tiny lever that could lift them; an art of using one's own enthusiasm to kindle a spark in others. It required sincerity, empathy, and a keen sense of timing.
When the scene unfolded again, Toudou Shizuka didn't speak right away. First, he walked over to the projection of a girl who looked especially dejected, head lowered as she fiddled with a pen. Rather than looking down on her, he crouched to meet her at eye level, wearing a gentle, understanding smile (making use of A-Rank Affinity), and softly asked, "Are you so upset because you missed that crucial ball just now?"
The girl's projection froze for a moment. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded.
Toudou Shizuka didn't say, "It's okay." Instead, in a tone that carried a touch of frustration but remained bright, he said, "Ugh, I get it! I was super frustrated just now, too! I really thought I could catch it! It's like... um... like finally getting to the front of the line for a limited-edition cake, only to drop it on the floor! Sooooo frustrating, right?"
(Just look in your pocket (இωஇ)—you're broke.)
He used a slightly exaggerated but very relatable comparison, instantly hitting the heart of her "extreme frustration."
The unexpected comparison made the girl's projection laugh through her tears. Her smile was faint, but her mood had clearly begun to lift.
[Success: Core emotion understood; empathy established. Negative emotions significantly alleviated.]
Toudou Shizuka seized the moment and stood up, raising his voice a little. He radiated the energy of someone who was "in the same boat" yet "full of hope." "But hey! Look!" He pointed toward the bright sunlight streaming in through the window in the virtual scene (part of the setting). "The weather's so nice today!
Even the sun's cheering us on! What's one mistake? We're Class B! Let's stick together, work twice as hard at the next practice, and get our win back! Then I'll treat everyone to the new Peach Soda to celebrate our comeback! What do you say?" At just the right moment, he offered positive signals of "unity," "effort," and "a celebration to come."
[Success: Positive emotions ignited; objective achieved (at least five people smiled or showed agreement).]
[Comprehension: Infectious Vitality B-Rank: 18.33%... 45.76%... 82.14%... 99.99%!]
Information Flow poured in! Countless fragments of knowledge about emotional communication, empathic approaches, positive suggestions, and coordinated body language fused with the lessons he'd learned from countless clumsy attempts in that stifling classroom! A warm sense of power, like a little sun, seemed to fill the core of his mind.
[Congratulations, Host! Skill acquired: Infectious Vitality! Rank: B!]
[Simulation Points earned: 20!]
[Current Simulation Points: 40!]
His consciousness returned to reality. The bustle of the Commercial Street filled his ears again, and warm sunlight fell on him. Toudou Shizuka opened his eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a brighter, more infectious smile than usual. He felt that his spirits had been positively "infected" too, leaving him a little more upbeat. Great, another useful skill, and he'd earned back some points.
He picked up his shopping bags, ready to tackle another important task for the day—buying equipment to gather information. His destination was Precision Electronics Workshop, a modest but well-regarded shop on Commercial Street known for selling all kinds of professional and specialty electronic equipment.
Precision Electronics Workshop had a small storefront with a stark, professional decor. Inside the glass counters were an assortment of Miniature Cameras, Voice Recorders, listening devices, high-powered binoculars, and more, all at odds with the leisurely atmosphere of the Commercial Street outside. The shop was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Toudou Shizuka pushed open the door, and a clear chime rang out. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man in gray work clothes, wearing black-rimmed glasses and sporting slightly greasy hair, looked up. His eyes were somewhat gloomy. He gave Toudou Shizuka a professional once-over, then lowered his head and went back to fiddling with a Miniature Camera.
[Target Scan: Clerk Yamamoto]
Electronic Equipment Repair (Expert): B-Rank (Core Skill)
Precision Instrument Calibration: C-Rank
Social Skills (Low): D-Rank
Mental State (Paranoid/Potentially Dangerous): D-Rank (Prominent Negative Trait)
[Affinity: -5 (Cold. Work really isn't fun, huh.)] - Worthless Target.
Toudou Shizuka felt a flicker of alarm. "Paranoid/Potentially Dangerous" mental state? That couldn't be a good sign. He remained calm and walked up to the counter, scanning the items on display.
"What do you need?" Clerk Yamamoto asked without looking up, his voice hoarse.
"Could you show me that Button-type Miniature Camera, and the Voice Recorder beside it with the longest battery life?" Toudou Shizuka asked calmly, pointing to the items in the counter.
Only then did Yamamoto lazily get to his feet and take out the equipment Toudou Shizuka had asked for. He gave a fairly professional rundown of the specs. "...This camera shoots in 1080p HD, has a wide-angle lens, 32 GB of built-in storage, and five hours of battery life... This Voice Recorder has good noise reduction, lasts seventy-two hours, and is easy to conceal..."
As he listened, Toudou Shizuka picked up the devices and examined them closely, using Thought Acceleration to quickly assess their value for money and suitability. Just as he was about to confirm the purchase, the chime above the shop door rang again.
A somewhat hesitant figure walked in. She wore oversized black-rimmed glasses that covered nearly half her face, and long bangs that almost hid her eyes. Her oversized hoodie was a dull color, and her whole being seemed to radiate a powerful desire to shrink into a corner.
[Target Scan: Sakura Airi (Class D)]
Photography (Composition and Light Capture): A-Rank (Core Skill, Suppressed)
Observational Skill (Detail Capture): B-Rank (Core Skill, Suppressed)
Severe Social Phobia: A-Rank (Negative Trait, Significantly Suppresses Other Abilities)
Extreme Inferiority Complex: A-Rank (Negative Trait)
[Affinity: 0 (No Interest)] - To unlock any skill, affinity must be ≥60 (High Trust), or a special opportunity must arise to break her psychological suppression.
Sakura Airi? Toudou Shizuka instantly recognized the girl who had almost no presence in the original work, yet possessed a talent for photography. A-Rank Photography and B-Rank Observational Skill! But they were being firmly suppressed by A-Rank social phobia and inferiority! It would be extremely difficult to unlock them; he'd need to earn her "High Trust" or find a "special opportunity."
Sakura Airi kept her head down, hardly daring to look at anyone. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Excuse me... d-do you have any replacement Camera Lens Cleaning Cloths? J-just the most ordinary kind..." She seemed to want nothing more than to buy what she needed and flee at once.
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