Provoke

"Open Personal Panel."

[Suzuki Tsubame] [Physique: 10] [Intelligence: 9.5] [Skills: Board Games Mastery, Ball Sports Mastery, ...]

So, adding skills also boosts intelligence in tandem? That makes sense.

Suzuki Tsubame felt his grip strength had increased considerably, but he had no idea how strong he actually was.

With one hand, he could easily lift a double bed that was 1.8 meters wide—he didn't know if that counted as impressive.

Arriving at the classroom.

Suzuki Tsubame activated System Scan, first targeting the characters who were powerful in the original work.

[Koenji Rokusuke] [Physique: 9.7] [Intelligence: 9.5] ...

[Hirata Yosuke] [Physique: 9.2] [Intelligence: 8.9] ...

[Sudo Ken] [Physique: 9.3] [Intelligence: 5.5] ...

[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka] [Physique: 9.5] (Physique does not represent actual combat power) [Intelligence: 9.8] ...

Koenji and Ayanokoji really have high stats.

Good thing I have Deep Blue for stat allocation...

He wouldn't have minded skipping class outright, but he was curious about everyone's attributes, and also wanted to eat the breakfast Horikita had prepared.

Breakfast was two rice balls—one savory, one sweet.

Suzuki Tsubame didn't know if he was a sweet or savory person; both were pretty tasty.

The savory one had glutinous rice wrapped around pork floss and fried chicken, paired with some unknown sauce, and was coated in seaweed flakes and white sesame seeds.

The sweet one was filled with red bean paste and various dried fruits.

He snuck bites during class—the teacher didn't care anyway, so he just went for it.

He needed to think carefully about what excuse to use to get Horikita to go to the café with him.

Right now, she still thought she could switch classes after the end-of-month exam, so inviting her under the pretext of class-related matters was clearly inappropriate.

Ring, ring, ring...

The homeroom teacher didn't linger for a moment and turned to leave.

"Suzune, I have something I want to talk to you about!"

Just as Horikita Suzune finished packing up and was about to leave, Suzuki Tsubame spoke up to stop her.

"What is it?"

Horikita Suzune had never seen him look this serious before.

Could it be... yesterday he'd even asked if she had any plans to get married. She'd been too lenient with him, and it had given him some improper ideas.

"Suzune, please come with me. I have something to say to you."

Suzuki Tsubame gestured for Horikita Suzune to follow, leading the way himself.

Just as I thought! Horikita Suzune was covered in exasperated lines—she should have been colder!

"So, what you called 'something' is just drinking coffee?"

"Uh... Suzune, have you ever heard what the famous philosopher Voluan Sode said? That within people lie unparalleled treasures, and the key to unlocking those treasures comes from communication."

"Heh, are you messing with me? I've never heard of any philosopher by that name."

Horikita's expression turned sour, seeing through his fabrication, but she still sat down beside Suzuki Tsubame with patience.

"Suzune, look over there."

Suzuki subtly pointed into the distance, where a group of girls in the same uniform were gathered. They were lively, surrounding a pink-haired girl like stars around the moon.

The pink-haired girl looked innocent and cheerful, her looks were top-tier, and most importantly, her abilities were incredibly strong!

She was, without a doubt, the strongest Suzuki had ever seen—even Chabashira Sae, that mature beauty, couldn't compare.

[Ichinose Honami] [Appearance: 9.9] [Intelligence: 9.2] [Physique: 8]

"Hmm, she's pretty. And? Need me to get her contact info for you?"

Horikita Suzune's face was calm, even cracking a joke.

Her looks did make Horikita take a second glance, she had to admit.

In terms of pure appearance, she might be slightly ahead herself, but unfortunately, the other girl's abilities far surpassed hers.

"I'm not telling you to look at how pretty she is." Though that was true, Suzuki silently omitted the second half of that thought.

"Don't you think her charisma is a bit too overwhelming? She's the type you instinctively want to get close to."

Suzuki tried to guide Horikita, hoping she'd understand the importance of friends.

"Hah, just a bunch of rabble. Surrounded by a crowd of useless people like that."

"Wouldn't that even affect her own judgment?"

"Becoming friends with someone like that—just thinking about it is a hassle."

Horikita let out a cold laugh, continuing her sharp critique.

Even if Ichinose really was like that... she was still in a much better place than Horikita was right now.

Well... it seemed that within this month, making Horikita understand the value of friends was a lost cause.

Just then...

"Oh? It's Suzuki-kun and Horikita-san! What a coincidence!"

Kushida Kikyo appeared out of nowhere, holding a cup of Cappuccino.

[Kushida Kikyo] [Appearance: 9.6] (I know some might argue, so let me explain. In the original novel, the true beauties are only Ichinose, Horikita, and Sakura Airi. Ayanokoji himself said they were the beauties; the others fall a bit short. My stats aren't low—just a hair below the top tier.) [Physique: 7.5] [Intelligence: 8.9]

"Can I sit here, Horikita-san?"

Kushida pointed to the seat right next to Horikita Suzune.

"No."

Horikita looked at her with undisguised annoyance.

"And I believe I told you yesterday not to bother me anymore!"

Kushida's smiling face stiffened for a moment, then she settled for second best. "Then can I sit next to you, Suzuki-kun?"

"Of course," Suzuki said with a smile, ignoring Horikita's murderous glare.

"Sorry for the trouble, Suzuki-kun."

After thanking him, Kushida took the seat beside Suzuki.

"By the way, you two seem really close," Kushida said with a light smile.

"Horikita-san, what do you usually like to do?"

No response.

"I'm leaving."

Horikita picked up the Strawberry Milkshake on the table and stood to leave. She couldn't stand this hypocrite.

"Suzune, we just sat down. Why rush off?"

Suzuki quickly grabbed her hand to stop her.

Horikita tried to shake him off, but failed.

"Since Kushida-san is here, you don't need me, do you?"

Her attitude was clear: it was either her or Kushida, no middle ground.

"How could that be? My relationship with Suzune is obviously better than the one I have with Kushida-san."

"If I had to choose, I'd definitely pick Suzune!"

Horikita Suzune's feelings were clearly purer than Kushida Kikyo's.

If forced to make a choice, no matter how he thought about it, he'd pick Horikita.

Of course, part of it was his preference for tsundere black-haired beauties.

After hearing Suzuki Tsubame's words, Horikita calmed down for once and sat back down in her chair.

She didn't even know why—after hearing him choose her, her heart inexplicably settled. Was being chosen by someone else really this comforting? Horikita Suzune couldn't help but ask herself.

[Ding! Long-term quest: Solitary Maiden, completion: 30%, reward: Martial Arts Mastery (including but not limited to: Eastern Ancient Martial Arts, Judo...)]

Damn, was Horikita this easy to win over?

He'd never noticed before. In the original story, he'd only seen her tsundere side.

President Horikita didn't lie to me—Suzune's true nature really is adorable!

"Suzuki-kun and Horikita-san have such a good relationship," Kushida Kikyo said with a smile, though it was slightly stiff.

"Of course, Suzune will be... cooking just for me from now on."

Suzuki Tsubame deliberately said something misleading, and Horikita only let out a cold laugh without refuting it.

"Huh? Does that mean Suzuki-kun and Horikita-san are already in that kind of relationship?" Kushida Kikyo's expression looked like it was barely holding together.

Suzuki Tsubame decided to stoke the fire: "That's right. After next month, we'll develop an even closer relationship."

There wasn't really anything wrong with that statement, and even Horikita thought so.

Suzuki Tsubame's ability earned another measure of respect from her—at least this talent for lying through his teeth without blinking was something she didn't have.

"Heh, is that so? Then I won't disturb your date. I'll be going now. Bye."

Kushida Kikyo could no longer maintain her mechanical smile and turned to leave.

Wasn't this just flaunting their relationship in front of her? And she'd even asked Suzuki Tsubame for help!

No! If they were in that kind of relationship, that bitch Horikita must have already told him about me!

Damn it! I'll make sure those two dogs get expelled!

"How long are you going to hold my hand?"

Horikita's hand was both slender and soft, making Suzuki Tsubame reluctant to let go for a moment.

"Sorry, sorry. This is my first time holding a girl's hand, so I got a little excited."

Suzuki Tsubame released Horikita's hand and gave her a smile to ease the awkwardness.

"Ha, is there a single truthful word in your mouth?"

Heaven knows! This time I really wasn't lying—after all, I've only been in this world for three days.

Apart from Sakayanagi and Kushida Kikyo, I haven't touched any other girls. Sakayanagi was a princess carry, no hand-holding; Kushida grabbed my arm herself, no hand-holding either.

So, this really was my first time.

Two minutes later...

"I'm going back to cook now. What do you want to eat?"

After drinking half of her beverage, Horikita found the ambiguous atmosphere between them a bit hard to bear.

"Huh? I get to order this time?"

Suzuki Tsubame was surprised—did he actually have that privilege?

"I want braised pork belly."

Suzuki Tsubame spoke quickly, afraid Horikita might change her mind.

Chinese cuisine was within Horikita's study scope, so he didn't need to worry about her not knowing how to make it.