Let's Play "Turtle Soup" (Continued)

Asakusa Toru spoke softly, gently prying Kushida Kikyo's hands away, and then stood up.

"Don't waste your time on this pointless thing," he said.

"In any case, let's decide on the project first."

With that, Asakusa Toru stood up and went up to the podium, then looked at everyone below the stage.

"Of course." Asakusa Toru paused for a moment, "I will make the final decision on my own."

Class D: "..."

Is it really that direct?

Why don't you just take it one step at a time, and pretend a little more?

The students in Class D were all a bit dumbfounded.

But Asakusa Toru didn't care about all that.

"Chess and chess are mandatory."

"The players are irrelevant; I will act as the command center and completely intervene in the outcome of this game."

"Ensuring it becomes one of the seven projects is the sole objective of this Special Exam."

"So, the other five distractions and the three activities you want to try competing with others in are up to you."

"Chess" requires one person and lasts for one hour (if the pieces run out, the player loses).

Rules: Same as standard chess rules. However, the time limit will not increase after the 41st move.

Command Tower: Allows issuing instructions at any time during the game's duration, for a maximum period of thirty minutes.

Asakusa Toru simply adopted the rules of Chess and the methods of interference from the command tower.

However, unlike others, he would use personal means to interfere with the players, causing both sides to completely forfeit the first thirty minutes.

In other words, it should be changed to thirty minutes.

Yes, rapid chess.

As agreed, the students in Class D were free to design the other projects, except for one thing that he decided.

This means that the control tower's intervention methods will be unified into one.

'You can choose to surrender at any time'

Who says that surrendering at a designated point isn't interference?

Immediately press the surrender button!

His initiative in bringing up serious matters diverted the tension between Karuizawa Kei and Kushida Kikyo, and the tension dissipated.

Asakusa Toru didn't have any particular opinion on the "battlefield" situation.

A chaotic battlefield has its own fun, and a harmonious harem has its own advantages.

However, he really wasn't in the mood to indulge in the jealousy and rivalry among the girls around him and feel smug about it.

14 days.

Two weeks.

"... call."

He let out a long sigh and leaned against the rooftop railing.

The sound of footsteps moving softly behind them was accompanied by a red dot appearing on the Mini-map indicating their approach.

"Speak your mind."

Before the girl could tiptoe closer, Asakusa Toru spoke without turning his head.

"Asakusa... classmate..." Hesitantly, Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth and changed her form of address. "No, I should call you Diary."

Like shattered glass, the Cognition Filter was completely destroyed at this moment.

As the last one remaining, Horikita Suzune finally saw through the fog.

And I am certain of it in my heart.

"I..."

Despite having thought about it for a long time, Horikita Suzune felt somewhat at a loss when actually facing the situation.

I have something to say.

Should I say something?

What would be the best thing to say?

Amidst her chaotic thoughts, the girl blurted out...

"--Who exactly is this Pseudo-human?"

Such a question.

I'm so curious, so upset, and so worried.

From the first few days of school, from the day she presumptuously told her brother the name of Yamauchi Haruki.

Horikita Suzune had actually been keeping this matter in mind all along.

What I dare not forget is the humiliation of that day, and what I cannot forget is the outcome of that ordeal.

Even though Asakusa Toru had already said it was over, she still couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Is this the first question they ask?"

Asakusa Toru's expression was a little strange.

Asakusa Tetsu wasn't too surprised that the visitor was Horikita Suzune.

Kushida Kikyo and Karuizawa Kei's performances have already revealed a lot; if Horikita Suzune is at this level and still can't see it...

Well, then he had nothing more to say.

Well, it's no surprise that the silly little sister doesn't understand.

Of course, it wasn't entirely unexpected that she had figured it out.

After all, although I keep calling my sister stupid, she's not really that stupid. At most, she's a little slow-witted and her way of thinking is a little more one-dimensional.

However, Asakusa Toru originally thought that even with his Little Sister-chan, she wouldn't be so direct; she would take a more gradual approach...

No, this is exactly how Horikita Suzune should be.

That's just how she is.

Initially, when he revealed his mistake regarding the Behavioral Norms Exam, he directly contacted his classmates to expose it.

At this point, asking her directly would be more in line with her personality.

Only...

She really has been thinking about it all this time.

Asakusa Toru couldn't help but smile slightly; at this point, perhaps only Horikita Suzune could bring him a smile.

"Because I want to know."

Although the question was uttered somewhat thoughtlessly and subconsciously, Horikita Suzune's resolve was strengthened by her own words.

Yes, I'm just curious, I just want to know, so I'm asking.

"But you lost miserably, you suffered a devastating defeat. You failed to deliver the results you hoped for, and you didn't forge the path you wanted to take." Asakusa Toru finally turned around. "You have no value, no right to question me, and I have no need to explain anything to you."

Are you threatening me?

As Horikita Suzune bit her lower lip, Asakusa Toru pressed on with another question:

"What are you trying to threaten me with? What leverage do you think you have to put yourself on equal footing with me?"

The reality, stripped bare, is revealed here.

"I can't threaten you, I won't threaten you."

Horikita Suzune shook her head vigorously.

Threats might work.

At least when the other party is unwilling to talk to you, finding some leverage to threaten them into accepting dialogue is a very effective tactic.

She had already experimented on Kushida Kikyo with this.

But.

A truly heartfelt conversation is needed to get the answers you genuinely want.

Threats are meaningless.

Threats can change the nature of communication.

This was the only thing the girl clearly understood.

Only sincerity can be reciprocated with sincerity.

However, following Asakusa Toru's lead, if we were to examine our own resources...

Perhaps the only thing I can boast about is my physical health.

Beautiful, enviable, perfect curves, lovely face; although she can't strike any seductive poses, just slightly stretching her legs would surely attract countless men eager to lick her.

Horikita Suzune was quite confident in her own body.

But this is not equivalent.

She switched bodies simply out of curiosity.

Even if this was the outcome she had always longed for, rationally speaking, the deal was anything but equitable.

Unequal transactions will only lead to unfair outcomes.

His words did not emphasize leverage, but rather 'equality'.

"Can I show you my underwear to exchange?"

Thus, after much deliberation, Horikita Suzune offered this as her bargaining chip.

Visual effects.

The physical body and the answer to the question are not equivalent.

But that doesn't mean her body is worthless.

Even just lifting her skirt to reveal a glimpse is valuable enough.

"..."

Asakusa Toru fell silent after being hit.

He felt a bit like he was back to when he first arrived at the Advanced Nurturing Center.

My dear sister, my dear prison girl.

I'm not trying to be mean.

"You can say things like that to other people?"

"Because it's you."

His question was met with a very direct response from Horikita Suzune.

Asakusa Toru: "..."

For a moment, Asakusa Toru felt as if he had lost control.

Has Horikita Suzune really grown to this level?

Why didn't I feel anything before?

"..." Asakusa Toru silent for a moment, not agreeing to the deal Horikita Suzune proposed, and instead turned his head away.

To say whether you want to watch it or not...

If he's driven by his desires, he'll definitely watch it.