If the Male Lead Can, So Can I

Wasn't that part of the game's initial data settings?

Akimoto Yoichi looked at the character panel that had suddenly appeared above the heroine, Suzuran Ayano's head.

Every heroine had her own entries, and those entries represented each heroine's personality and effects.

Suzuran Ayano's main appeal was that she was the male lead's childhood friend and had made a promise with him when they were young.

In an erotic game, that promise was naturally some childish vow about becoming your bride when they grew up and staying together forever.

That also determined Suzuran Ayano's route. She would help the male lead study hard, remain by his side, and serve as his supporter.

However, this game was not purely about romance. Just as there were happy endings, there were naturally bad endings as well.

That bald manager at the company had a sudden brainwave, claiming he wanted to attract as wide a readership as possible. Ignoring all objections, he insisted on making dual routes for pure romance and Blondie.

As long as the protagonist neglected the heroine to a certain extent, failed to constantly keep an eye on her declining affection, and did not immediately raise it back up, the Blondie storyline would trigger, with someone stealing her away.

Then, the effect of the tsundere heroine Suzuran Ayano's "Unforgettable" Heroine Entry once she entered Blondie's route...

It would become remembering everything Blondie did for her vividly and being unable to forget it, gradually falling into Blondie's arms.

Akimoto Yoichi had never expected that he would become Blondie.

Yet when he saw the Heroine Entry above the tsundere heroine Suzuran Ayano's head, a different idea came to him.

"If it can increase both our Memory by 20%, wouldn't that mean I could easily memorize these words?"

Akimoto Yoichi had a flash of inspiration.

As Blondie, he had no intention of using the tsundere heroine Suzuran Ayano's Heroine Entry effect for anything bad, like improving the experience or something. Wouldn't it be great to use it for studying instead?

Looking at the little English vocabulary notebook in his hand, he had spent the entire morning desperately memorizing words yet failed to remember even five.

Clearly, this character's intelligence was not very high. All his points had gone into stamina.

With the tsundere heroine Suzuran Ayano's entry buff, he would undoubtedly get twice the result with half the effort.

Wasn't this basically a ready-made learning machine? Tap wherever he didn't understand, and it could even improve his Memory!

With that thought, Akimoto Yoichi turned around without hesitation.

At that moment, the conflict between the two of them and those high school students had already erupted.

Although the tsundere heroine Suzuran Ayano had a strong personality and had learned karate, she was no match for several high school students wielding baseball bats.

The male lead, Fukayama Midori, had technically already played the part of a hero saving a beauty. At first, he had desperately tried to hold back his childhood friend because he did not want trouble.

But the other side was clearly not made up of good students. They were the sort who would pick a fight with you just for looking at them a few times on the street.

Until Akimoto Yoichi appeared.

Before those high school students could react, they found themselves sprawled on the ground. Dazed, they stared blankly at Akimoto Yoichi as he walked up to them.

"Get lost now, unless you want to be taught a lesson."

Looking at Akimoto Yoichi, who stood more than half a head taller than them, their arrogant swagger immediately vanished.

"Just you wait!"

"Don't let me see you again! Yellow-haired freak!"

"That's right! You're dead! You dare mess with our 'Yorashiku'! You're finished!"

After throwing out a few threats, the high school students picked up their things, turned around, and ran.

Watching the high school students flee into the distance, Akimoto Yoichi turned to look at the two behind him.

"Are you two all right? I don't like seeing people bully students from my school. It makes everyone else at our school look down on us. My name is Akimoto Yoichi. I just got into Izuki Academy, so I'm a new student."

With the soul of a man in his thirties and experience from playing who knew how many erotic games because of his work, Akimoto Yoichi smoothly introduced himself and made it clear that he was an ally.

Fukayama Midori, who had taken a few kicks, and Suzuran Ayano, who was still shaken, finally relaxed.

Looking at the tall, burly Akimoto Yoichi who had helped them out, they politely greeted him as well.

"Hello, I'm Suzuran Ayano. I'm also a first-year student at Izuki Academy. Thank you for helping us just now."

"I'm Fukayama Midori. I'm a new student too. Please take care of me."

Mm, I know your names.

Watching the two bow to him, Akimoto Yoichi still pretended not to know them.

"Hello, Suzuran and Fukayama. We're all new students, so we might even end up in the same class."

At that moment, Akimoto Yoichi could see the data panel for the male lead, Fukayama Midori, in front of him.

[Character: Fukayama Midori]

[Height: 167]

[Weight: 105]

[Health Status: Normal]

[Personality: Cowardly and introverted, otaku, indecisive, strong sense of pride]

[Academic Rating: B]

[Athletic Rating: B]

[Likes: 2D culture, figurines, art photo books, panties, black/gray]

No surprises there. Standard male lead stats.

The male lead's base stats were much lower than his own as Blondie, but the male lead would gradually grow through romance.

"Huh? Where's my backpack?" Only then did he realize his backpack was gone.

He scanned the ground around them, but Akimoto Yoichi could not find the backpack he had thrown like a brick.

"Ah, maybe those guys picked it up just now!" Suzuran Ayano, who was quick-witted, immediately voiced her guess.

"Then that's troublesome. Those punks were wearing Heilin High School uniforms. That school's discipline is terrible, so we might not be able to find it."

Fukayama Midori said apologetically as well.

"Forget it. At worst, I'll just buy a new one." Akimoto Yoichi shrugged. Fortunately, he had not put his little English vocabulary notebook in the backpack and had stuffed it into his pocket instead.

"Let's go. Today is the opening ceremony, so we shouldn't be late."

With that, Akimoto Yoichi flipped through his little English vocabulary notebook as he headed toward the school.

Looking at Akimoto Yoichi's back, Fukayama Midori and Suzuran Ayano did not know what to say and could only follow after him.

Along the way, the three chatted briefly and learned a little about one another. Mainly, Suzuran Ayano and Fukayama Midori learned more about Akimoto Yoichi.

Akimoto Yoichi looked frightening on the surface, but after speaking with him, they discovered that he was actually quite gentle.

He did not even glance twice at Suzuran Ayano beside him.

From beginning to end, Akimoto had kept his little English vocabulary notebook in his hands.

Suzuran Ayano, who had initially been somewhat afraid of him, gradually moved closer to Akimoto Yoichi as she taught him the correct pronunciations of words.

Fukayama Midori, standing beside them, seemed somewhat unnecessary.

Walking beside the two and watching his childhood friend talk with Akimoto Yoichi, Fukayama Midori felt a faint sense of unease, though he did not dwell on it.

As expected, while walking with Suzuran Ayano, Akimoto Yoichi's Memory noticeably improved.

By the time they reached the school, Akimoto Yoichi had already memorized dozens of words.

Studying really was addictive.

Because of censorship, these two chapters might feel a little awkward.